The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement -in opposition (SPLM-IO) led by First Vice President, Riek Machar is less enthusiastic about participating in the upcoming December 2024 general elections, citing the failure on the parties in the revitalized peace agreement to complete critical pending peace tasks.
Tor Tunguar Kueiguong, the Chairperson and also Deputy Governor for Unity State, while addressing a public rally last week in Bentiu town, said they doubt whether the elections will be free, fair and credible if the various armed forces are not unified on time ahead of elections.
“The purpose of our peace rally today, is about the upcoming elections, our position is very clear let the government implement what was signed in the peace agreement, we still have two armies how can we go for elections, which means we are risking our civilians if we conduct elections with many factions,” said Tunguar.
“SPLM-IO is not ready for elections; we are only focused now opening our coordination offices in seven counties of Unity State including Ruweng Administrative Area,” he disclosed.
Tunguar said they plan to open coordination offices in Rubkona County, Koch County, Mayom County, Guit County, Mayendit County and Leer County.
“Right now we are not ready for the upcoming elections because the government is delaying the peace implementation, elections are good but it is too risky for civilians if we still have many factions, how do civilians go for voting when they see many armed factions like the way we are?” he asked.
South Sudan’s transitional unity government made up of parties signatory to the 2018 revitalized peace agreement is supposed to graduate and deploy a total of 83,000 unified forces comprising of police, wildlife, prisons and national security services and the South Sudan army (SSPDF).
The parties have do far deployed only 6 percent of the 83,000 unified forces who will be charged with securing the country during elections.
