Lam Akol questions feasibility of holding 2023 elections
The Chairman of the National Democratic Movement (NDM), Dr Lam Akol Ajawin, has questioned the feasibility of holding the 2023 anticipated elections citing loopholes in the implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement.
Akol says there were still many pending tasks, especially under Chapter I of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan that needs to be implemented to pave way for elections.
In an opinion piece published by Sudans Post, the NDM Chairman was categorically concerned about the formation of the Ad Hoc Judicial Reform Committee and the demilitarization of civilian centres.
“The formation of the ad hoc Judicial Reform Committee and the demilitarization of the civilian centres, both scheduled to take place before the end of January 2022, was not implemented,” he wrote.
He highlighted that the Reconstituted Transitional National Legislative Assembly has done very little to pass bills critical to the electoral process.
“The adoption of the Constitutional Bill that incorporates the R-ARCSS into the Constitution of South Sudan 2011 before the end of February 2022 looks extremely unlikely given the fact that the Parliament is busy debating the annual budget.
“The Political Parties Bill and the National Elections Bill that should have been promulgated before the end of February are yet to be tabled before Parliament,” he said.
Akol argues that these challenges were intertwined and must be addressed comprehensively if a free, credible, and fair election is to be held.
“The delay in the implementation of these activities causes a delay in the implementation of other related activities. For instance, the delay in demilitarizing civilian areas would discourage the voluntary return of the refugees and IDPs to their ancestral homes,” he said.
“Delay in adopting Political Parties Act would push back the formation of the Political Parties Council and consequently the registration of the political parties,” he added.
Way forward
The NDC Chairman, however, is hopeful that a credible election can be held if the aforementioned loopholes are fixed within the short remaining timeframe.
“The critical activities that need more time than what is available until elections day are: the constitution-making process, the return of the refugees and the IDPs to their ancestral homes, and the conduct of the population census.
“In view of the vital and pivotal role of provision of security to the elections process in fostering trust and confidence in the elections results, this task must be given to UNMISS. It is already in South Sudan with a mandate under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter to, among other duties, protect civilians and assist in the implementation of the R-ARCSS. We appeal to members of the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution to that effect.
“Once security is provided, the refugees and IDPs will be encouraged to voluntarily return to their homes to resettle and take part in this important civic duty of voting in their leaders,” he said.
On the remaining issues of the Constitution-making process and conduct of the population census, Akol said the Parties to the Agreement should decide as soon as possible on what to do.
“In case it is decided not to conduct the population census before the elections, we need to caution ourselves that the 2008 Population and Housing Census in Sudan was contested by the SPLM, GOSS and other South Sudanese.
“Therefore, it cannot be the basis of the data to be used for constituency demarcation. The only census that enjoyed support in Southern Sudan was the 1983 Census which was conducted and made public before the war broke out in May that year. Although that is about 40 years old, it is far better than a more recent contested one. Those results can be extrapolated to this year 2022,” he said.
South Sudan is preparing for an election in 2023. However, the month and date of the anticipated polls are not fixed.
Citing the Revitalized Peace Agreement, Akol said the fixed date for holding an election was 22nd December 2022 arguing that any deviation from that shall amount to the violation of the agreement.
