The United Nations has warned that the success of South Sudan’s forthcoming national elections will depend not only on the conduct of the vote but also on whether the country’s fragile political transition remains stable afterwards.
Anita Kiki Gbeho, head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), gave the warning while briefing the UN Security Council in New York on November 10, as the country prepared for elections scheduled for December 22.
“The central challenge facing South Sudan today is whether the transition remains anchored in the Revitalized Peace Agreement and whether the gains of recent years can be preserved and sustained beyond the election,” Gbeho told the Council.
She added that the real measure of success should be whether citizens become safer after the election.
The warning comes amid growing political tensions following President Salva Kiir’s decision in September to dissolve the transitional unity government, remove all vice-presidents, including First Vice-President Riek Machar, and appoint a caretaker administration.
Opposition groups have rejected the moves, arguing that they violate the power-sharing arrangements established under the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan.
Concerns over election funding and security
The African Union’s High Representative for the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, raised concerns about the financial resources available for the elections.
He told the Security Council that the government appeared to lack sufficient funds to finance the electoral process.
Murithi Mutiga of the International Crisis Group also warned that holding elections without adequate preparation could worsen the political situation.
He expressed concern that rushed elections could undermine the 2018 peace framework and create conditions for renewed large-scale violence.
Security concerns have also intensified in parts of the country. According to the UN Secretary-General’s latest report, clashes in Upper Nile displaced more than 35,000 people, while an ambush on a UN patrol in Jonglei in August killed three peacekeepers.
US diplomat Jennifer Locetta also accused South Sudan’s government of obstructing UN operations by blocking patrols, delaying approvals and harassing UN personnel.
South Sudan government responds
South Sudan’s Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations, Sabino Edward Nyawella Amaikwey, urged UNMISS to acknowledge the country’s progress and engage the government as a partner in addressing outstanding challenges.
He cautioned against international approaches that could be interpreted as taking sides in domestic political disputes or interfering with matters he described as the sovereign responsibility of South Sudan’s government and people.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation remains serious. The United Nations estimates that 2.5 million South Sudanese face emergency levels of hunger, including 73,300 people experiencing catastrophic conditions.
With the December 22 elections approaching, the UN and other international stakeholders are urging political actors to protect the peace agreement and prevent the electoral process from triggering further instability.
