Kiir urges holdout groups to embrace Kenya-led mediation
May 27, 2024 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has urged the holdout groups to embrace the Kenyan-led mediation, stressing the need for an inclusive election earmarked for December 2024.
He was speaking at a rally organized by the Greater Equatoria region to endorse his candidature for the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) on Sunday.
The event drew support from Eastern, Central and Western Equatoria states.
Members of the state secretariats, governors, county commissioners, ministers, legislators, municipalities, and ordinary members of the ruling SPLM and party organs at lower levels were transported to Juba to participate in a one-day event in which candidacy of the flag bearer in the upcoming elections was endorsed.
“To ensure that this election is inclusive, I am also calling upon our brothers and sisters in the holdout groups to embrace the Tumaini Initiative under the leadership of Kenyan President William Ruto to dialogue with us to reach an amicable solution”, said Kiir.
Last year, Kiir was endorsed in Bahr el Ghazal region as a candidate for the SPLM.
Similar preparations are expected to take place in Malakal, Upper Nile State.
The South Sudanese leader appealed to members of his party to adequately prepare for upcoming elections due in December 2024, pointing out that most South Sudanese are eager to elect their leaders this year.
He called for multiparty dialogue to decide the kind of election that befits the country’s situation.
“I urge interparty dialogue to find amicable solutions on the way forward for the elections to be held, and while this process is ongoing, I urge the SPLM secretariats and the entire members of the SPLM to prepare and get ready for the election in December 2024”, stated Kiir.
The South Sudanese leader further informed the delegates that the agreed period on the roadmap was coming to an end, and the position of the SPLM political party was to allow the South Sudanese people to elect their leaders.
“Comrades, the agreed transitional period on the roadmap is coming to an end. Our position in the SPLM is that the people of South Sudan must be given the right chance to choose their leaders at the end of this period. Now, if I ask any of you here whether you like the election or not. I think the majority of answers will be positive,” he told the rally held in the capital, Juba.
Kiir downplayed fears that holding an election will plunge the country into chaos.
“Some people in America and Europe said that a statement of SPLM must be prevented. Because if they go for elections people will fight. Who is going to fight here among you?” Some people said if the election is allowed to go on, many people will die. South Sudanese will fight. I must assure you that nobody will fight,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Kiir accused some unnamed parties to the peace agreement of trying to push for an extension of the timeline of the transitional agreement.
“Some political parties are pushing for an extension of the transitional period to ensure that their concerns are not ignored. I have urged the interparty dialogue to find amicable solutions on the way forward for elections to be held,” he said.
South Sudan is due for elections in December 2024 according to provisions of a roadmap signed by the parties to the peace accord in August 2022. However, observers and political positions are concerned about the lack of the full implementation of key provisions in the 2018 peace agreement.
But while the armed opposition (SPLM-IO) and First Vice President leader Riek Machar pushes for full implementation of the peace accord before elections are conducted, Kiir and his ruling party want the polls held as scheduled.
(ST)