A civil society activist has raised concerns over the integrity of South Sudan's upcoming elections, citing undemocratic changes to the leadership lists of three political parties. Edmond Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), warned that these alterations pose a threat to the country's democratic process. The National Democratic Movement (NDM), the South Sudan National Movement for Change (SSNMC), and the Federal Democratic Party (FDP) recently held a joint press conference in Juba, presenting evidence of the changes.
The three parties presented physical evidence showing that the original founders and rightful leaders who registered their parties with the South Sudan Political Parties Council (PPC) had their names changed without a democratic process. Yakani described this development as an "irregularity," an "ambiguity," and an "attack on democracy" and "elections." He emphasized that civil society cannot remain silent in the face of these red flags, especially as the country prepares for general elections.
In response to these incidents, CEPO has established a pre-election domestic observation mission to monitor the electoral process. Yakani confirmed that these incidents are being documented and will be included in upcoming monitoring reports. The organization aims to ensure that electoral problems are identified and addressed early on, rather than on voting day.
Yakani urged the Political Parties Council's leadership to immediately address the evidence raised by the parties and clear the air. He also appealed to the leaders of the NDM, SSNMC, FDP, and the PPC to meet, resolve the dispute, and inform the public transparently. Yakani questioned what would happen on election day if such practices were allowed to continue prior to the election.
The civil society activist called on national leaders to step in and ensure that the country's first peaceful transfer of power remains credible, free, and fair. He emphasized the importance of maintaining the integrity of the electoral process and preventing any actions that could undermine it.
The Political Parties Council has yet to respond to the allegations, and Yakani withheld direct blame until it does so. However, he stressed the need for the council to take immediate action to address the concerns raised by the three parties and to ensure that the electoral process is transparent and fair.
The incident has raised concerns about the potential for similar irregularities to occur during the elections. Yakani's call for transparency and accountability highlights the importance of ensuring that the electoral process is free from manipulation and that the rights of all parties and candidates are respected.
Key points
- The Political Parties Council is urged to address the altered party leadership lists.
- A civil society activist has raised concerns over the integrity of South Sudan's upcoming elections.
- The incident has raised concerns about the potential for similar irregularities to occur during the elections.
