Jemma Nunu Kumba, the first female speaker of R-TNLA, during an exclusive interview with Eye Radio - credit | Lou Nelson/Eye Radio | Jan 28, 2022

The Speaker of the National Parliament encouraged South Sudanese to stop getting worried about the upcoming December 2024 elections, adding that the polls will be peaceful.

Jemma Nunu Kumba says she wonders why citizens are concerned about the process and calls on political leaders to give assurances that the country will hold peaceful elections.

According to Speaker Nunu, some of the publics are considering leaving the country during the elections time in fear of possible violence.

“Our people are worried about election, why are they worried? Who is scaring them? Are we the ones? Politicians, are we scaring our people? Why our people scared of elections?” Nunu inquired.

She was speaking during the funeral rite prayers for the later Lucy Poni, the mother of cabinet affairs minister Dr. Martin Elia Lomuro in Juba on Wednesday.

“It is time for us to assure our people, we need to tell our people don’t be afraid, we will go for election, and it will be peaceful. So, my brothers and sisters, let us start assuring our people of peaceful election, our people should not be scared.”

“Some even say where I will go during election because they think that after election those who will not win, they will cause problem. We need to assure our people that we will not cause problems, if you fail elections life should continue.”

South Sudan is expected to hold its first general elections late this year, as agreed upon by parties to the revitalized peace agreement, after they extended the transitional period for 24-months in August 2022.

This is expected to enable the establishment of a democratically elected government.

But some opposition parties have questioned the country’s readiness for such exercise, citing unimplemented electoral provisions and lack of political and civic space.