NDM leader Dr. Lam Akol speaks at a civil society conference in Juba. March 19, 2024. (Photo/Charles Wote).

The leader of National Democratic Movement Dr. Lam Akol said the South Sudanese people are most likely fed up with being ruled by a transitional government since 2005.

Dr. Lam spoke at the opening occasion of a three-day Civil Society Conference seeking the way forward for the transitional process.

The veteran politician said the ongoing discussion on whether to extend the transitional period is not a new thing,

Dr Akol said the same reasons that led to the numerous extensions of the peace agreement were being discussed in the first day of the conference. He attributed the situation to lack of political will.

The leader of NDM added that the citizens maybe frustrated of having transitions after transitions since before the country gained independence.

He said that South Sudanese apparently want to cast vote by all means whether through a credible election or not in order to get rid of the transitions.

“The reason given for the extension last year was that we had not implemented the prerequisites for the election to be possible,” he said.

“We are debating the same thing, the same debate that we had in August is, should an election be carried out? And the South Sudanese people are fed up with this kind of discussion.”

“This may be a result of the frustration of having transitions under transition. From 2005 up to today South Sudan has been ruled by a transitional government.”

“They may be fed up with being ruled by transition and therefore they would want to get rid of these transitions by all means whether it is a credible election or whatever as long as they vote. They think that they are freeing themselves.”

Dr Akol said the peace parties often do not discuss issues pertaining national interest but rather when they are dividing power, or when they differ.

According to him, failure of the peace parties to build trust, promote reconciliation to ingrain dialogue has become a culture.

“You would be surprised that the parties never sit down to discuss things except when they are dividing power, or ministerial position, and when they differ on that is where they come in, but they are never I don’t remember a case where we sit down and discuss.”

South Sudan is expected to hold its first ever general election since independence, in December 2024, amid concerns about pending tasks necessary for the election credibility.

The long overdue election is the only way for South Sudan to transition to democracy.