President Salva Kiir. (Office of the President).

President Salva Kiir on Friday evening reconstituted the Political Parties Council and the National Elections Commission, answering relentless civil society appeals to have the electoral bodies restructured.

In a Republican Decree read on national television SSBC, Kiir formed the two bodies outlined in the 2018 peace deal as prerequisite to the conduct of free, fair and credible polls next year.

He appointed Eng. James Akol Zakayo as the Political Parties Council chairperson, Dr Lona Loduro as the deputy chairperson, and Ustaz Peter James Lebi as Executive Secretary.

The president also appointed seven members to the council namely, Dr. Abraham Kuol Nyuon, Mary Joshua Tombe Ladu, Nyachangkuoth Rambang, Mary Akech Bior, Rev. Boutros Andrea, Gordon Lam Gatluak, and Akuoch Ajang Nyanong.

Kiir further reconstituted the National Electoral Commission and appointed nine members from the peace parties.

He reappointed Abednego Akok Kacuol from the SPLM party as the chairperson and Michael Yabagayo of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) as his deputy.

The Commission’s new Chief Executive Officer is Mac Maika Deng, a civil servant and six more members were also appointed.

They are Nyawargah Gatluak Lul and Sabo Abuso from the SPLM party, Gatluak Gabriel Deng and Amos Juma Oshia from the SPLM IO party, and George Lemi from the National Agenda Democratic Forum, and Emmanuel Makum of SSOA.

According to the 2018 pact, the President, in consultation with the Parties, and with the approval of the parliament, shall reconstitute a competent and impartial National Elections Commission to conduct elections, no later than twelve months after the commencement of the Transitional Period.

The National Elections Commission has been mired in bankruptcy as its chairperson repeated appeals to the Ministry of Finance and Planning to clear years of rent arrears or they face eviction.