UN Official: South Sudan Challenges Threaten Peaceful December Elections
New York, Aug 6 (KUNA) -- A United Nations official warned on Thursday that the persistence of political, security, and humanitarian challenges is raising growing concerns about the conditions necessary for holding peaceful, inclusive, and credible elections in South Sudan, scheduled for December next year. This warning came during a briefing delivered by Anita Gbah, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), via video link, at a session convened by the UN Security Council to discuss the situation in South Sudan.
Gbah noted that while election preparations have come to dominate the political landscape, they are unfolding amid fragile trust among the parties, ongoing insecurity, and a worsening humanitarian crisis. She added that the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement has been affected by measures that have raised concerns about inclusivity and consensus-building, while the absence of key opposition figures from crucial political processes has undermined confidence in the transitional phase.
Gbah expressed concern over continued clashes between the South Sudanese army and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In-Opposition (SPLM-IO), noting that more than 420,000 people were displaced during the first half of this year, while approximately 7.1 million people are facing food insecurity. She clarified that South Sudan is hosting around 1.4 million people who fled the conflict in Sudan, while the spread of diseases has further complicated the humanitarian situation, with more than 13,000 cholera cases recorded since the beginning of the year. Meanwhile, authorities are preparing to address the risk of Ebola virus transmission from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
On a positive note, the UN official welcomed the government’s announcement in May of its commitment to refrain from engaging in new hostile acts, describing it as an important step toward building trust, while emphasizing the need to translate this commitment into a tangible reduction in violence. Gbah pointed out that the UN mission continues to support the peace process by protecting civilians, facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid, and fostering dialogue among national, regional, and international stakeholders.
The Special Representative conveyed four key messages to the Security Council: an immediate cessation of hostilities; protection of civilians and humanitarian personnel; ensuring access for aid; and resuming an inclusive political dialogue involving all parties, alongside a realistic assessment of the minimum conditions required to hold credible elections. (End) E.S.T./H.M.F
