Norwegian Special Envoy calls on parties to open civic, political space

By Benjamin Takpiny

The Norwegian Special Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan Jon Anton Johnson has called on parties to the 2018 revitalized peace agreement to open up civic and political space ahead of the upcoming elections in December.

Anton made this call at the end of his three-day itinerary to South Sudan on Thursday in Juba after holding high-level discussions with government officials, civil society, and representatives of the international community.

“We trust that the political leaders of South Sudan will increase the frequency of dialogue and decision-making so that a critical mass of the pre-requisites necessary for credible and peaceful election in December is in place by April,” Anton said according to a statement issued by the Norwegian Embassy in Juba.

It said that the primary focus of the Special Envoy’s visit was to underscore the urgent need for election preparations, which include South Sudan’s leaders taking steps that ensure political and civic space, politically neutral security forces and the funding and operationalization of necessary election institutions and addressing the ten questions posed in July by the United Nations, African Union and IGAD.

It said that Anton echoed the statement of the Special Representative of the Secretary General Nicholas Haysom to the Security Council, in which he identified the period up to April as a critical time frame for preparations for credible elections.

Anton also expressed Norway’s commitment to supporting regional efforts aimed at finding a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict in Sudan.

The Special Envoy last visited Juba in October 2023, where he emphasized the need for increased momentum in the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement in South Sudan