The African Union (AU) has urged the country’s leaders to preserve the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity, end hostilities and release everyone arbitrarily detained for political reasons.
The call followed a virtual meeting involving the AU C5 and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Member States.
Speaking to Channel Africa on Thursday, Political Analyst and Sudan and South Sudan Expert Akol Miyen Kuol said the main obstacle to completing the transition was a lack of political commitment among parties to the 2018 peace agreement. “There is no political will from the side of the revitalised peace agreement members,” Kuol said.
“All the members who are part of the revitalised peace agreement could not work together in the last few years, and now we are approaching December.”
Kuol welcomed the AU’s call for political detainees to be released but said fewer than three months would be insufficient to rebuild trust before the elections. “The call by the AU for the release of the political detainees is in place,” Kuol said. “However, the timing is not enough for trust-building.”
The AU has also called for an agreed and time-bound electoral roadmap. Kuol said the process should address political disagreements, security conditions and the participation of opposition groups inside and outside South Sudan.
“The political parties to the revitalised peace agreement, plus the other political and military groups which are still outside the country, need to come together in an inclusive dialogue before any election can be held,” Kuol said.
Kuol said many South Sudanese were excited about the possibility of participating in the first general elections since independence.
However, insecurity, humanitarian pressures, economic difficulties and poor infrastructure could hinder campaigning, voter participation and election administration.
“The conditions for the conduct of a credible, fair and peaceful election are not in place,” Kuol said.
“There are no proper roads, even for political leaders who would want to carry out political campaigns ahead of the election.”
Kuol warned that elections conducted without broad agreement could produce results rejected by opposition parties and the international community.
Kuol called on the AU, IGAD and international partners to engage President Salva Kiir and support a limited postponement. “The election should be postponed for a certain period of time to give room for dialogue,” Kuol said.
“This dialogue must be inclusive. It must include political parties within the country and opposition groups outside the country.”
–ChannelAfrica–
