South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Awan Achiek
The Chairperson of the National Election Commission (NEC), Prof. Abednego Akok Kacuol on Thursday directed officials on the State high electoral committee to start voter education ahead of the upcoming general election scheduled for December this year.
Akok issued this directive during the swearing in ceremony of the newly appointed officials of the high electoral committees for the 10 states held in Juba.
He noted that the immediate task of the high electoral committees is to identify probable voter registration centers at the county levels across the States.
“Right now, they will return to their states to implement the act, starting with civic education and followed by voter registration. This leads them to identify voter registration centers in their States,” Akok said.
The high electoral committees each consisting of a chairperson, deputy chairperson, and three committee members was established on 17 June 2024.
He said civic education is aimed to sensitize citizens about voter registration.
Akok said the officials will undergo short -training which will enable them to have skills and knowledge to manage elections.
On July 5, NEC released the election roadmap running from 22nd December 2024 to February 22nd 2025.
The Election Commission Act 2012 amended 2023; section 16.1 provides powers to the National Election Commission to announce the election date.
Akok said that the time is right for the country to exercise its democratic culture and legitimate government through people’s power.
Chief Justice, Chan Reech Madut disclosed that they have started enhancing the capacity of judges to resolve election disputes.
“It is our responsibility, all of us, by the way as the judiciary we have also started training judges on election disputes,” Reech said.
“We have done this in collaboration with a German organization called Max Planck. All the judges, except 20, but we are going to train these other 20, so that they know, in all the sessions they will be there. If there are any disputes relating to elections they will be there,” he said.
The officials sworn in include George Kuong Gattang, chairperson of the high election committee in Unity State, Peter Mayom, and Chairperson in Upper Nile State, Tuor Majok, Chairperson of Lakes State and Jacob Anei, Chairperson of Warrap State.
Arkangelo Udo was named head of the electoral committee in Western Bahr el Ghazal State, Joseph Akuei Yak in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, and Abdallah Hassan in Eastern Equatoria State.
Simon Bakama Monday was appointed head of the electoral committee in Western Equatoria, and Alphayo Philip was named head of the electoral committee in Central Equatoria State.
