South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Awan Achiek
The Coalition of Opposition Parties (COOP) on Friday cast doubts on the credibility of the upcoming general election slated for December this year, arguing that the lack of requisite conditions prior to the elections may render the polls a sham.
“After careful analysis of the current political environment in South Sudan, we regretfully concluded that the necessary prerequisites for holding free and fair elections have not been adequately implemented,” said Dr. Gai Chol Paul, the Chairman of the Coalition of Opposition Parties in a statement issued in Juba.
He said that the idea of holding elections is popular but the environment in which the elections are being conducted matters, adding that creating conducive political atmosphere will ensure equal participation, transparency and accountability.
“There is no secure environment to facilitate the elections because the ongoing inter-communal conflicts across various parts of the country have created an atmosphere of fear and intimidation, making it challenging for citizens to exercise their democratic rights without fear of reprisal,” he said.
Under the 2018 peace deal, the country needs to have in place a new permanent constitution, voter registration details, well-trained and equipped unified security forces and mechanisms for handling disputes over election results that are yet to be realized.
Chol said that currently there is no secure environment to facilitate the elections due to the ongoing inter-communal conflicts across various parts of the country which have created an atmosphere of fear and intimidation among the citizens.
He said the prevalence of violence and the presence of armed groups further exacerbate the situation, hindering the establishment of conducive environment for credible elections.
“Our position is that the current political environment in South Sudan requires urgent attention and intervention from the international community,” Chol said.
He called on the UN and other international players to take a leading role in initiating a process of inclusive dialogue that will pave the way for the formation of a caretaker government.
