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UNMISS pledges ongoing support for December elections

Author: Koang Pal Chang | Published: August 15, 2024

UNSG Special Representative walks at a parade to mark the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers. (Photo: UNMISS).

The Head of the UN Mission in South Sudan stated that the mission will continue to support the creation of an enabling environment for elections in South Sudan, regardless of when they are scheduled to take place.

Addressing the United Nations Security Council, Nicholas Haysom, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, highlighted recent progress in the preparation for elections in South Sudan.

Haysom noted that there have been several positive developments, including partial funding for the National Constitutional Review Commission and the appointment of State High Elections Committees.

With support from UNMISS, the National Elections Commission (NEC) has begun evaluating the infrastructure needed to facilitate a conducive electoral environment.

However, he says it is challenging to consider December 22 as the definitive date for elections since the parties have yet to reach an agreement on when the elections should be held.

“On 5 July, the National Elections Commission announced 22 December 2024 as the date for elections, citing its legal obligations under the National Election Act,” Haysom said.

“I note, however, that there is still ongoing consultation between the political stakeholders as to whether elections can or should be held this year. This makes it difficult to treat 22 December as a definitive trigger in isolation from other critical factors,” he said.

To date, 29 political parties have been registered. However, disputes persist over registration fees, the closure of the registration period, and the continuation of military formations by some parties.

Haysom stated during the UN Security Council briefing that should the elections proceed as planned in December, UNMISS will comply with the Security Council’s mandate to provide detailed reports on the security situation.

“If a final decision is made in favour of elections in December, UNMISS would proceed with this Council’s mandated request for the Secretary-General to provide a report on the security situation, which will include protection of civilians and force protection evaluations, 90-, 60- and 30-days before any election,” Haysom said.

“UNMISS continues to support the creation of an enabling environment for elections in South Sudan, whenever they are to be held,” Haysom said.

“We are focusing on maximising the Mission’s protection presence through three key lines of effort (that is: dialogue and engagement, physical protection, and the creation of a broader protective environment); this includes capacity building support to the host government towards greater self-reliance in the protection of its people.”

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