Puok Both, SPLM-IO Director for Information, also Acting Press Secretary in the Office of the First Vice President - Courtesy

The SPLM in Opposition says the party is ready for the upcoming 2024 general elections but warns the process must be free, fair, and transparent.

This statement comes after the Minister of Cabinet Affairs Martin Eli Lomuro announced on Thursday, June 1, the commencement of preparations for the ballots.

Dr Martin Elia Lomuro revealed this following a meeting of the Joint Task-force for the Electoral and Constitution-making Process in Juba.

He said there was an absolute determination that the country may go for elections because it was the only option and the surest way of turning the country into a peaceful and stable nation.

Puok Both Baluang, the Acting Spokesperson of the First Vice President says this move will allow the citizens to demonstrate their views and rights for the future of South Sudan.

However, Puok Both says the country needs elections that is transparent and not shallow to avert the country from sliding back to war.

“We are ready for elections since it’s a democratic process and also it’s given the people of South Sudan a chance to demonstrate their constitutional rights and its endpoint of the agreement,” said Puok.

“We are ready for the elections, but the process must be a democratic process that is fair and transparent, not the shallow elections that can lead the country to square one again.”

On the weekend, the leader of the South Sudan National Movement for Change said on Saturday, June 3, the party was ready for the 2024 general election which is expected to usher in a democratically-elected government.

And a recent, survey on public perceptions of the revitalized peace agreement has shown that the citizens want the December 2024 elections to take place with or without a permanent constitution or risk of violence.

According to Detcro Research and Advisory which conducted the survey, the exercise was carried out in the 15 most populated towns across the country, and the population data was based on information from World Food Program.

The survey conducted in April and May this year is made public during a civil society organizations’ consultation meeting in Juba on May 30, 2023.

In the Bahr el Ghazal region, the survey was conducted in Aweil East, Gogrial West, Yirol West, Rumbek Central, and Jur River.

In the Upper Nile region, the survey was carried out in Bor South, Malakal, Renk, Rubkona, and Pibor.

Meanwhile, in the Equatoria region, it was conducted in Juba, Torit, Yei, and Yambio.

The perceptions survey showed that many South Sudanese feel they are prepared to vote in December 2024 elections.

Most of the respondents also said enactment of a permanent constitution should be done by the new, and elected government, while few want it done by transitional government.

However, the survey showed that most South Sudanese feel that census is necessary for conducting fair, fair and credible elections.

Many also said although the risk of election violence is very high, they wanted December 2024 votes.

Last week, the head of the UN Mission in South Sudan, Nicholas Haysom said the peace-keeping body is ready to support South Sudan in its journey towards free, fair, and credible elections.

However, he described the process as a mountain to climb.