South Sudan’s Church Leaders Decry Politicians’ “lack of will” to Remove Impediments to Delayed General Elections

Hon. Gatluak further described the extension as “an opportunity to implement the critical remaining protocols in R-ARCSS, such as the permanent constitution process, census, and the registration of political parties.”

In their statement dated September 17, the Church leaders in South Sudan fault the country’s “political elites” for taking advantage of the postponement of elections in the country to enrich themselves.

“Though there is a need for a political decision to ensure sustainable peace in South Sudan, the political elites and parties to the agreement should not continuously exploit the resilience of the people of South Sudan; they should stick to their promises,” the SSCC members say.

As a Church, they add, “we urge all stakeholders to prioritize peace, healing, and reconciliation, and ensure that the affected people in the flooded areas, refugees, and IDPs are assisted, including redeeming the current dire economic crisis and paying civil servants and organized forces timely.”

The Church leaders remind South Sudan’s political leaders to “remain committed to their promises”, and add, “We appreciate and urge the regional and international community and our Ecumenical partners to continue supporting the people of South Sudan in their pursuit for peace and developments.”

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“As a Church, we remain prayerfully vigilant, and closely following peace implementation and political development in our Country,” SSCC members say in the statement that six representatives of Christian denominations in South Sudan co-signed.

South Sudan’s transitional government was formed in February 2020 in line with R-ARCSS.

The world’s newest country that gained independence from Sudan in July 2011 and plunged into civil war in December 2013 had scheduled general elections before February 2023.

An agreement between the RTGoNU and the opposition was to postpone the elections to late 2024. Another postponement was reported, “owing to the continual delays in implementing crucial aspects of the 2018 peace agreement.”

In a July 3 interview with the Catholic Radio Network (CRN), Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala of South Sudan’s Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambia (CDTY) lamented that an extension of the mandate and general elections would only serve to prolong the “suffering of the people” of God in the country.

“For the last four years, there has not been proper work in the country; not so much service has been done,” Bishop Hiiboro lamented in the interview reported on July 4.

He added, “If you’re extending that period there must be a promise that the market will change tomorrow, people will have basics to feed on and necessary services they need for themselves.”

The South Sudanese Catholic Bishop, who serves as the President of the Integral Human Development Commission of the Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SCBC) also argued that an extension would “give us humble time to prepare the people before the election comes.”

Agnes Aineah is a Kenyan journalist with a background in digital and newspaper reporting. She holds a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism from the Aga Khan University, Graduate School of Media and Communications and a Bachelor's Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communications from Kenya's Moi University. Agnes currently serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.