Head of UNMISS urges urgent decisions for possible December 2024 elections

The Head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) emphasized that for the envisioned free, fair, and credible elections in December 2024 to be possible, South Sudanese parties, leaders, and stakeholders must make critical decisions by the first quarter of 2024.

Highlighting the need for agreement on crucial matters, the Head of UNMISS stated, “It would be impossible to envision free, fair, and credible elections unless all parties grab the bull by the horns and agree on a critical mass of decisions by the first quarter of 2024.”

While welcoming the reconstitution of key electoral bodies, such as the National Elections Commission, the official stressed the urgency of resourcing and operationalizing them. Emphasizing the complexity of the electoral process, he underlined that it requires deliberate decisions before, during, and after the polls, with full support from the South Sudanese population.

South Sudan, which gained independence in 2011, faced delays in holding elections due to a civil war that ended in 2018 with a peace deal. Originally scheduled for February this year, the elections were hindered by the government’s failure to meet key clauses of the peace agreement.

During the press conference, SRSG Haysom expressed concern about recent violence in the Abyei Administrative Area and Warrap state, urging the government to take action for peaceful dispute resolution. UNMISS continues its efforts to protect civilians and support state authorities, but Haysom stressed the completion of transitional security arrangements.

In conclusion, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for South Sudan reiterated the importance of the country completing its long-overdue democratic transition. The humanitarian emergency in South Sudan, worsened by the influx of returnees and refugees from neighboring Sudan, reduced funding, climate change, and ongoing risks to aid workers, was also a focal point of the discussion.