South Sudan's National Elections Commission (NEC) Chairperson Gabriel Bol Deng has defended his neutrality ahead of the country's planned general election on December 22. Deng, who was appointed by President Salva Kiir last week, faced questions from journalists in Juba about whether his ties to the president could affect the credibility of the election. Deng and Kiir hail from the same community of Awan Chan in Gogrial West County, Warrap State.
Deng rejected suggestions that his background would influence his work overseeing the election. He emphasized that his performance in office, rather than his place or community of origin, should determine how he is judged. "It is up to the people of South Sudan to judge me by my leadership, but not on the locality of where I come from, and not on the tribe that I come from," he said. Deng also cited his experience as a civil servant and his commitment to being guided by the transitional constitution and national election law.
Before his appointment as NEC chairperson, Deng served as the commission's secretary general and held a senior administrative position in President Kiir's office. He defended his appointment, arguing that a qualified citizen should not be excluded from public office because he comes from the same area as the president. Deng also noted that he was already familiar with the NEC, having served as its secretary general prior to his appointment as chairperson.
Deng has a long history of public service, dating back to his involvement in the Sudan People's Liberation Army's liberation struggle as a teenager in 1987. He was trained as a member of the Red Army and later received permission to study in Kakuma, Kenya. Deng described himself as one of the Sudanese children who became internationally known as the "Lost Boys" after fleeing the war and spending years in refugee camps in the region.
After studying in the United States and training as a mathematics teacher, Deng earned a master's degree in mathematics education. He emphasized that his actions in the coming months would provide the basis on which his leadership of the electoral body should be judged. "So, it is up to you to judge, the media, the people of South Sudan, my action in the next three months," he said.
The amended National Elections Act, signed into law by President Kiir on Monday, separates the elections from the completion of a permanent constitution and a national population and housing census. It also allows the incumbent president to remain in office and exercise his constitutional powers during the election period. The election is scheduled to be South Sudan's first general election since independence in 2011.
With voter registration yet to begin, the NEC has less than three months to complete registration and other preparations before polling day. Deng's appointment comes after the removal of Prof. Abednego Akok Kacuol, who had been heading the NEC. No public reason was given for Akok's removal. Key challenges for the NEC include ensuring timely voter registration and maintaining the credibility of the electoral process.
Key points
- Gabriel Bol Deng was appointed as NEC chairperson by President Salva Kiir last week, amid concerns over their ties.
- Deng has a long history of public service, including involvement in the Sudan People's Liberation Army's liberation struggle and a master's degree in mathematics education.
- The NEC has less than three months to complete voter registration and other preparations before the scheduled December 22 election.
