Catholic Bishops in South Sudan Want Insecurity Addressed, Preparations Made for December Elections

“Like all South Sudanese, we look forward with hope to the day when free and fair elections can be held in our country, but we are disappointed by the government's lack of preparation,” the Catholic Bishops say, and add, “An election is not a single event, it is a whole process spread over time.”

Members of the two-nation Conference of Catholic Bishops further say organizing credible elections involves many elements, including the establishment of an independent electoral commission.

Elections, they say, must only come after the country has undertaken demarcation of constituencies, registration of voters, political parties and candidates, training of electoral officers, as well as civic education.

They also underscore the need to have in place the logistics of voting in our vast land which has poor infrastructure and communications; security; and a peaceful environment conducive to voting.”

“Virtually none of this has taken place,” they say, criticizing the lack of preparedness for the country’s elections. “It is also difficult to see how all parts of the country will be able to vote freely given the insecurity, and other challenges such as the widespread flooding. In addition, this is not just an ordinary routine election,” they lament.

To the Bishops, South Sudan’s upcoming election is part of the R-ARCSS, a peace agreement signed by the country's political parties to the 2013 civil war.

They explain that the election forms the final step of the agreement, the culmination which takes place only after all the other parts of the R-ARCSS have been fulfilled and which officially ends the mandate of the R-ARCSS. 

The Catholic Bishops have also expressed concern about the reluctance of a section of political parties in the country to hold national elections.

“Some parties want elections to take place while others are reluctant,” they say, and urge all parties to put aside their differences and to work together for the good of the people. 

“Any solution must be based not on sharing power between elites but on constitutionality, good governance, and the rule of law,” SCBC members say, urging the government and other parties to “take these negotiations seriously.”

“Whatever happens they should remain in dialogue and refrain from words and actions which might contribute to violence,” they add.

The Catholic Bishops also urge the people of South Sudan to remain calm and patient during the country’s electioneering period, and for the international community to support the process.

SCBC members further express concern that the R-ARCSS agreement has not addressed the root causes of the conflicts in South Sudan, including lack of constitutional government, nepotism, corruption, land disputes, and the failure of good governance and the rule of law.

The agreement, they say, “has provided a welcome breathing space, but in itself, it does not resolve the conflicts.”

“We believe that the nation needs to look beyond the R-ARCSS and elections, to move beyond power struggles between different parties and factions, and to begin a true national dialogue on South Sudan we want, a dialogue which is independent of political and military elites and which listens to all voices, particularly faith communities, civil society, traditional chiefs and elders, women and youth,” the Catholic Bishops say.

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They say the military should have no place in government in either Sudan or South Sudan, adding, “We warn against quasi-military power-sharing arrangements as anything but a temporary short-term measure leading to a true civilian government.”

SCBC members say the Church has also suffered from violence.

They make reference to the murder of Fr Luke Yugue and his driver Mr Michael Gbeko in the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio (CDTY), as being the “most recent amongst many others.”

“While we are willing to forgive individuals, we condemn their actions and the impunity they enjoy, and we urge the government to fulfill its responsibility to protect all the citizens of South Sudan,” SCBC members say.

The Catholic Bishops further express concern about the “dire economic situation of the country and the suffering it is causing for our people.”

“Prices continue to rise, and inflation is one of the highest in the world. Salaries are often not paid. People cannot afford to buy basic necessities and are facing extreme hardships. As we have seen in many other countries, this can lead to protests, instability, insecurity, disorder and violence,” SCBC members lament.

They urge the government of South Sudan to address this economic crisis. 

“We appeal and plead that we have a moment of reflection and listening,” the Catholic Bishops say in their June 29 statement.