SRSG Nicholas Haysom on Wednesday's press conference says South Sudan has to grapple with multiple challenges, including the effects of the Sudanese situation, without losing sight of the critical need to address its own internal security challenges - Photo Credit: UNMISS

The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on Thursday said the current political and civic space in South Sudan does not offer an equal platform for all parties ahead of the country’s first general elections.

UNMISS boss Nicholas Haysom, who held a press conference in Juba, warned against “unilateral actions” that undermine trust among the peace parties.

“Today, the honest assessment of many observers and stakeholders is that the current political and civic operating space does not offer a level playing field,” Haysom said upon returning from a series of diplomatic engagements.

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary General had travelled to Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, and to South Africa, which is the chair of the C5 Group of countries appointed by the African Union to deal with South Sudan.

“Therefore, it’s imperative for the parties to agree on a code-of-conduct around free, fair, and transparent competition. UNMISS cautions against the temptation towards unilateral actions that undermine the trust that is needed amongst all stakeholders.”

The South African also advised that political parties must be able to register and campaign without intimidation and fear.

On the other hand, he said South Sudan needs the active participation of civil society, who could support civic education and function as monitors and observers of a “credible” process.

Mr. Haysom further recommends that the South Sudan media must be allowed to report freely, accurately, in a balanced way, without censorship or threats.

He further warned that it would be impossible to imagine a free, fair, and credible elections in December 2024, “unless all South Sudanese parties, leaders, and stakeholders grab the bull by the horns, and agree on a critical mass of decisions by the first quarter of 2024.”

Political parties, civil society and international peace guarantors have repeatedly called on the government to grant equal and fair opportunities for all political parties ahead of the 2024 polls.

An October 2022 joint statement by the Presidency instructed state governments and administrators not to obstruct parties to the peace agreement in their spheres of influence.

But only a few political parties have announced their nominees to challenge President Salva Kiir as others decry harassment and intimidation when running their activities in the states.