UN Warns South Sudan Elections at Risk

A senior United Nations official has warned that worsening political, security, and humanitarian conditions in South Sudan could undermine efforts to hold peaceful and credible elections scheduled for December 22.

Briefing the UN Security Council, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative and head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Anita Kiki Gbeho, said election preparations had intensified, but significant challenges remained. She said the conditions required for free, peaceful, and inclusive polls had yet to be fully established.

Gbeho said the implementation of the Revitalised Peace Agreement had stalled, while mistrust among political stakeholders continued. She also noted that the absence of key opposition figures from major political processes had raised concerns about the inclusiveness of the country’s political transition.

She expressed concern over continued clashes between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO), particularly in Jonglei State, warning that civilians continued to bear the impact of the violence.

According to the United Nations, conflict displaced more than 420,000 people between January and June. South Sudan is also hosting about 1.4 million refugees who have fled the war in neighbouring Sudan. Gbeho added that cholera outbreaks and the risk of Ebola spreading from the Democratic Republic of Congo were placing further pressure on the country’s fragile health system. It remains unclear whether the current challenges will affect the planned election timetable.

SOURCE: AA