The leader of the faith-based group to the peace talks is urging the government to achieve peace before conducting elections.

Enock Tombe Stephen is the bishop of the Episcopal Church of the Diocese of Rejaf.

He leads the group of Christians and Muslims participating in the peace talks.

“It is doubtful if anyone can conduct elections in less than eight months and produce reasonable elections. Let alone the issue of funding, we don’t have money even to pay salaries, let alone whether we have money to pay for elections expenses.” The Bishop continued, “I am not sure if our partners will pay for these when the war is still going on. So the best thing will be to stop the war and then now ask our partners to come and help us do the elections.”

Last week, the Council of Ministers approved a 517-million US dollar budget for general elections, which are due to be held in July next year.

Bishop Tombe and opposition politicians in the country have urged the government to stop the war to ensure free and fair elections.