South Sudan’s Minister for PeaceBuilding Addresses Election Preparedness and Peace Efforts

In a panel discussion at the UN Day event in Juba, South Sudan’s Minister for PeaceBuilding, Stephen Par Kuol, highlighted the nation’s unpreparedness for upcoming elections in 2024. Par, a prominent member of the opposition SPLM-IO, expressed concerns about the lack of necessary preparations.

Minister Par emphasized the commitment of the country’s leadership to preventing a return to war. However, he pointed out the absence of essential processes for post-election management, stressing that the conditions for holding elections were not currently met. He underlined the collective responsibility in shaping the nation’s future, calling for engagement with various sectors such as intellectuals, academia, civil society organizations, and clergy, in critical thinking.

“The government alone should not bear the burden of thinking for the people. Often, the most insightful ideas emerge from the people themselves because our focus here is not just on the government; it’s about the people,” Par explained.

Par commended the Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGONU) for its leadership in the peace process, emphasizing that the government’s primary mandate was to implement the peace agreement and establish a peaceful environment for nation-building. He conveyed a strong commitment to overcoming current challenges and preventing a return to war, assuring the public that the peace process was irreversible.

Addressing the issue of elections, Par highlighted the importance of understanding their purpose and stated that the required conditions for elections did not exist. He urged leaders to explore peaceful alternatives to war and emphasized the need for accountability and responsiveness to the people’s demand for peace.

The Minister for PeaceBuilding also stressed the significance of addressing the root causes of insecurity, particularly intercommunal violence, which he attributed to the breakdown of government institutions. Par emphasized the active implementation of the peace agreement, especially in eradicating all forms of violence in the country, to establish a foundation for peacebuilding.

South Sudan was initially meant to conclude its transition period with elections in February 2023, but the unity government failed to meet key provisions of the agreement, including drafting a constitution and unifying the army. Consequently, the parties to the agreement extended the transitional government’s time in office for another two years, leading to the rescheduled general elections in December 2024.