Ramaphosa urges South Sudan to remove obstacles to fair elections — Daily Maverick
The African Union supported holding South Sudan’s first democratic elections on December 26, although South African President and chair of the C5 committee Cyril Ramaphosa warned of significant obstacles to free, fair and credible voting. Daily Maverick reported on the decision and statements by meeting participants.
Support for elections with reservations
The African Union’s C5 committee on South Sudan, which includes Algeria, Chad, Nigeria, Rwanda and South Africa, held a virtual meeting on September 29 on the country’s readiness for elections. Ramaphosa was the only president of the committee’s member states to take part. South Sudanese President Salva Kiir also attended the meeting.
Selma Malika Haddadi, deputy chairperson of the African Union Commission, said that South Sudan’s government had confirmed its intention to hold elections on December 26. Ramaphosa stressed, however, that the transition to democracy is not limited to voting and requires creating conditions for free, fair and credible elections. He urged the country’s government to resolve the existing problems as soon as possible.
Committee recommendations
The committee recommended that all parties fully implement the provisions of the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement, immediately cease hostilities and observe a permanent ceasefire. It also called on the government to release people arbitrarily detained for political reasons and to guarantee rights, humane treatment and due process for those facing prosecution.
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Other recommendations include adopting a realistic, agreed and time-bound electoral roadmap, providing electoral and transitional institutions with timely funding, and removing political, legal, technical, operational, financial and security obstacles. The African Union, C5 and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development are to coordinate technical assistance for the electoral process and implementation of the peace agreement.
Concerns over violence
One of the main obstacles cited was the house arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar, Kiir’s rival, as well as the detention of other political opponents. The article notes that Machar’s supporters may disrupt the elections by force.
Researchers at the Institute for Security Studies in Nairobi, Guyo Chepe Turi and Said Abdullahi, believe that credible elections in the country are already impossible under the current conditions. They recommended postponing the vote until the necessary conditions are created and focusing on preserving the peace agreement that underpins the current transitional government.
