Dr. Riek Machar, First Vice President and Leader of SPLM/A-IO - Courtesy

The SPLM-IO has suggested 24 months to complete the pending critical tasks that are prerequisites to the conduct of elections.

The document addressed to President Salva Kiir called for the implementation of the security arrangements before elections take place.

The declaration came following the SPLM/SPLA(IO) Political Bureau meeting that took place on 13th February 2024, to evaluate the prospects for conducting elections in December 2024

The 10-page document sent to Eye Radio newsroom points out that the conduct of the population census should be carried out within 16 months before elections.

The document dated February 13, 2024, stated that tasks such as judiciary reforms, repatriation of refugees, and IDP settlement must be completed before elections take place.

Other tasks that the group wants to be completed before elections are the establishment of the Hybrid Court, the Reconstitution of the Independent Commission as well as free elections activities.

In a statement signed by Dr Riek Machar, the SPLM-IO calls for dialogue among the parties to the agreement to chart the way forward.

“Given the mentioned prerequisites, it’s the constitution-making process which has the longest timeline that will determine the end of the transitional period and other concurrent activities including setting the time for elections.” said the statement.

“The parties to the agreement must dialogue among themselves in order to chart the way forward to allow for the implementation of these critical activities that are extremely important for the peaceful and democratic end of the transition,” stated the statement.

This came after the South Sudan Opposition Alliance on Monday declared its readiness for the general elections scheduled for December 2024.

According to the political alliance, the South Sudanese people are tired of transitions and eagerly want to exercise their right to choose their leaders.