Parties should work to ensure level playing field before general election

The recent reconstitution of the National Election Commission (NEC) should be preceded by creation of level playing field for all parties.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan has been calling for opening up political and civic space, and yet the opposite is happening such as the clampdown on opposition parties.

A case in point is the incident that happened on January 14, 2024 in Akoka County of Upper Nile state, where SPLM-IO party items were confiscated by security agents.

Sometime back in Wau, SPLM-IO members were roughed up by the security agents, all these incidents show the lack of political space for political parties to compete as we head for the December polls.

For elections to be taken as free, fair and credible there should be no intimidation, violence and restriction on political parties to campaign and yet what we are witnessing goes against the spirit of free and fair elections.

President Salva Kiir and all the leaders of other opposition parties need to harmonize positions as far as elections are concerned so that all parties enjoy unfettered access to probable voters.

Time is running out for the parties and bodies concerned with preparing elections as there are a lot of things that need to be put in place to guarantee credible elections.