President Kiir shakes hands with Peter Lord, United States Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Africa, Sudan and South Sudan. (PPU)

The United States Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Africa appealed to the South Sudanese leaders to ensure the conduct of credible elections and embrace democracy and human rights.

Peter Lord made the remarks following his meeting with President Salva Kiir on the anticipated December 2024 general elections.

He called on the transitional government to take necessary steps for holding free and fair general elections.

“I came here to South Sudan to talk about the urgent need for South Sudan’s leaders to take the steps necessary to hold credible and peaceful elections in December and reject violence as a tool for political competition,” Lord said, speaking to state media SSBC.

“The United States support to the people of South Sudan which begun decades ago, is based on all conditions that the people of this country deserve peace, human rights, democracy and a government that is responsive to its citizens’ needs.”

On his part, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Corporation Dr. James Pitia Morgan described the meeting as very constructive.

Dr. Morgan said President Kiir assured the US envoy of his commitment to conducting peaceful, free, fair, and credible elections at the end of the transitional period.

“The meeting we conducted was very constructive. It was all about elections and peace. Our friend, the United States of America was concerned about the situation of peace in South Sudan,” he said.

“President Salva Kiir gave them the assurance that yes elections will be conducted, and the people of South Sudan will exercise their right to elect a government that is accountable to them.”

According to the roadmap, South Sudanese will cast their votes in December this year during the general elections.

On February 13, the SPLM In Opposition suggested 24 months to complete the pending critical tasks that are prerequisites to the conduct of elections.

The document addressed to President Salva Kiir, following the SPLM/SPLA(IO) Political Bureau meeting, called for the implementation of the security arrangements, census, judiciary reforms, repatriation of refugees, and IDP settlement and establishment of the Hybrid Court, before elections take place.

Meanwhile, the SPLM, the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA), and a section of Other Political Parties (OPP), have declared their readiness for elections in December 2024.

On Wednesday, President Kiir and OPP leader he Other Political Parties (OPP) held a meeting on the upcoming general elections.

Speaking on behalf of the alliance, lawmaker Kornelo Kon Ngu said OPP supports the conduct of elections in December 2024 to allow the people of South Sudan to choose their leaders in a free democratic process.

The head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said on February 27, that inter-communal violence is the biggest threat to the conduct of the upcoming 2024 elections in the country.

Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in the country, said he has learned that the South Sudanese people and leaders want elections, although there are uncertainties about the efficiency of electoral institutions and the process.