(Adnkronos) – There is an official date for the anticipated elections in South Sudan: it is December 22. This was announced by the authorities of the world’s youngest state, which has never gone to the polls since independence in 2011, with 74-year-old President Salva Kiir in power for 15 years. Announcing the date, the head of the electoral commission, Abednego Akok Kacuol, acknowledged – as reported by the BBC – the obstacles that have continued to hinder the organization of the vote.
The first elections of independent South Sudan were supposed to be held in 2015, but were postponed due to the bloody civil war. After the 2018 “conflict resolution” agreement (R-Arcss, Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan), they have still never been organized. According to the British network, the continuous ‘difficulties’ between Salva Kiir and his former deputy, Riek Machar, could still weigh on the vote, and the possibility of yet another postponement is not ruled out. Riek Machar has been under house arrest since March last year and was formally accused last September of murder, treason, and crimes against humanity. Accusations he denies.
Yesterday, the presidency confirmed Kiir’s commitment to implementing the 2018 agreement and reported that preparations for dialogue in view of the consultations are underway. Security, preparation for the vote, and the state of freedoms are among the concerns expressed by opposition parties and civil society organizations.
