Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

U.S. Senator Ben Cardin who chairs the Foreign Relations Committee has urged the need for a genuine, peaceful, and inclusive elections where citizens are able to hold their government accountable, as the best path to peace and stability.

Cardin said thirteen years ago, the international community celebrated the promise and potential of South Sudan, welcoming the world’s newest country.

However, he said, not once since independence have South Sudan’s people had the opportunity to go to the polls to elect their leaders.

Instead, Cardin said, violence and conflict have characterized the years since independence resulting in millions displaced with around three quarters of the population need international assistance to survive.

Despite these challenges, Cardin said, he still believes peace and democracy can take root and deliver for the South Sudanese people.

Apparently, according to Cardin, the government of South Sudan has refused to create conditions that will lead to credible elections as it closed political space, failed to fund independent electoral institutions, and create a politically neutral security force.

He called upon South Sudan’s leaders to open political and civic space, respect press freedoms, and empower election institutions to operate independently in order to create and environment conducive to peaceful, credible, democratic elections by the December deadline.

He also underscored that the government has not taken a people-first approach in its policies.

Cardin is underscoring what he terms as the government’s “repeated efforts to impose taxes, duties, and other inappropriate fees on the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, and others delivering food, health care and education for the South Sudanese people, including humanitarian agencies, diplomatic missions, and implementing partners.”

“I urge the government to put its people first, by fully enforcing tax and duty exemptions, and eliminating unnecessary fees, so that assistance reaches those in need without delay.’