South Sudan's Leader Stresses on Holding Elections as Scheduled

In a significant development from Juba, South Sudan, President Salva Kiir issued a stern warning to lawmakers on Wednesday, urging them not to delay the electoral process. This comes shortly after Vice President Riek Machar, a former adversary of Kiir, proposed postponing the elections slated for December. Kiir emphasized the importance of allowing citizens to elect their leaders and called on parliament to expedite the enactment of necessary legislation to facilitate the electoral process.

The President's address marked the resumption of parliamentary sessions after a recess. South Sudan, which gained independence in 2011, has seen its electoral timeline adjusted previously. Elections initially set before February 2023 were deferred to December 2024 last August. Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba assured that efforts would be intensified to meet all election prerequisites.

Machar's suggestion for extending the transitional government's tenure aims to ensure adequate preparations for the forthcoming elections. This proposal comes amidst an economic downturn exacerbated by a decline in oil exports, a vital revenue source for South Sudan. The economic strain follows recent conflict in neighboring Sudan, which declared force majeure on oil shipments through its territory, disrupting South Sudan's oil exports.

The financial crisis has severely impacted civil servants and security personnel who have not received salaries for six months. Amid these challenges, South Sudan is striving to establish a permanent constitution, an electoral commission, and a unified police force comprising both pro-government and rebel factions. These measures are crucial for stabilizing the nation and ensuring security.

Despite the peace deal signed in 2018 to end a five-year civil war, communal violence persists in several regions of South Sudan. The United Nations has extended its peacekeeping mission in the country, demanding an end to hostilities and urging swift government action to ensure that the delayed elections proceed peacefully and freely in December.