WESTERN EQUATORIA - With South Sudan scheduled to hold its first post-independence elections in December, the time for preparations to ensure it is conducted peacefully and credibly is fast running out.
Minimal funding has been provided to electoral institutions and legal frameworks so far and security plans and other necessary processes are still pending.
“The entire international community has a stake in ensuring that the transitional period comes to an end peacefully, and it transitions this country into a sovereign state, being able and willing to hold its first independent elections at the end of this year,” explained Anees Ahmed, Director of the Rule of Law and Security Institutions Section at the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.
A strong electoral justice system is critical to protecting political rights – to vote, be elected, freely express opinions and form or join parties - and safeguarding the integrity of the process and outcome.
Disputes are common during competitive elections and credible mechanisms are required to resolve them.
To help strengthen preparedness, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan and partners facilitated a symposium in Juba for academics, lawyers, members of the National Elections Commission, Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs and the judiciary.
“When citizens see that election-related disputes are handled fairly, transparently, and efficiently, this can serve as a confidence-building measure, not just in the election process and outcome, but in the political and legal system in its entirety,” said Graham Maitland, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (Political).
The key objective was to strengthen a shared understanding of South Sudan's electoral dispute resolution framework by clarifying the mandates, procedures, and coordination roles of key institutions and stakeholders across all phases.
Another priority was to build the capacity of all actors to prevent, manage, and resolve disputes in a timely, fair, and gender responsive manner. But the question remains: is the country is genuinely ready for its first ever democratic polls.
“We need the permanent constitution, amendment of the relevant laws according to the agreement, so that in order to conduct free, fair, and credible elections, for me as a South Sudanese national, I'm not in a hurry for these elections,” stated Dr. Geri Raimondo Legge, Head of Public Law Department, University of Juba.
All participants agreed that preparedness is a shared responsibility.
“An election dispute resolution mechanism is a shared responsibility. It does not fall solely on the National Elections Commission,” said Mac Maika Deng, Chief Executive of the National Elections Commission. “All of us here, the Ministry of Interior, police, other security agencies, civil society and media. We share in all this responsibility to resolve disputes.”
The hope is that rapid progress can be made towards the milestone moment when the people of South Sudan finally realize their right to choose their own leaders and chart their own future.
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By Okot Emmanuel
