The UK government says there is no enough time for the National Elections Commission to organize credible polls in June.
The UK Ambassador in Juba, Ian Hughes, told Eye Radio that the Transitional Constitution requires that a population census is conducted and political parties registered before the elections.
He says his government will not be interested in financially supporting a process that they feel is flawed.
“Our concern as friends of South Sudan is that there isn’t time to organize an effective, credible election by June. And there are a number of reasons for that. Not least is the lack of infrastructure in the country. The fact that June is a rainy season, the fact that the constitutional requirements for an election are not in place,” Amb Hughes said.
Nineteen political parties sued the electoral commission yesterday, seeking a court order to stop the election process.
The government has been insisting that the elections are required to keep legitimacy and avoid a power vacuum when the term expires in July.