Category: Peace

The Presidency instructed state governments and administrators not to obstruct parties to the peace agreement in their spheres of influence.

The Presidential Affairs Minister Friday said all the parties are working under one government through the 2018 peace accord, and the presidency ordered free political space.

The peace parties have been faced with hindrances by the other in areas that are not under their control.

“It’s clear that now, there is only one government. So, the instruction to all governors, all the commissioners of the counties, they should allow all the parties that are members of the peace agreement to conduct their political activities without obstruction,” Marial said.

Each political party has accused the other of harassing and intimidating their agents for establishing their offices and conducting political rallies and campaigns.

In August, the SPLM-IO Secretary-General Regina Joseph Kaba said her members had faced continuous” harassment of its fellow party members and supporters across the country.

She raises the concerns after the recent detention of some SPLM-IO members by security forces in Lakes State, an SPLM stronghold.

Kaba had led a delegation to Rumbek town for a political event last week when some of her team members were arrested upon their arrival in the area

She said their supporters were wearing an SPLM-IO blue T-shirt when they were apprehended, an allegation Lakes State government spokesperson denied.

The Chairperson of the state Human Rights Commission, Malok Makol Bol was among those briefly detained.

On the contrary, the SPLM Party also has often time accused the main opposition SPLM-IO of blocking it from campaigning in some counties under the control of its commanders, an accusation Machar’s party refuted.

At the weekend, the SPLM interim secretary general, Lamb Both accused the SPLM-IO of obstructing the party from establishing the bases in its areas and called for free political space

She called on the SPLM-IG to allow freedom of expression and open political space, as enshrined in both the revitalized peace agreement and the interim constitution.

However, the presidency on Friday directed all levels of government to open up the political space for the peace parties to conduct their activities freely

“This is a clear message, to open space to all political parties. There are no close areas or certain parties, it is now open to all,” Mariel said.

South Sudanese are expected to go to polls in 2024 by the extended peace agreement to usher in a democratically elected government.

However, the implementation of the key provisions of the peace agreement such as making a permanent constitution, registration of political parties, and conduct of a national census are fundamental to the process.