CEPO Executive Director Edmund Yakani. | Photo by Radio Tamazuj.

Civil society leader Edmund Yakani has renewed call on political leaders to agree on the legal framework for the conduct of elections and ensure adequate and timely funding for voter registration before the country goes to the polls.

Yakani, who is the Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization, made the call as the National Elections Commission launched civic and voter education activities in Juba.

He said political leaders must first reach consensus on the conduct of the elections to ensure the process is credible, free, fair, and peaceful.

“The critical decisions that are required from the political leadership for creating what we can call as a credible, free, fair and peaceful elections from the political leadership are centered on the following,” he said.

“Number one, there’s a need to reach a political consensus for the conduct of the election as the only honorable and peaceful means for transfer of power in a political disputed context. Secondly, adequate and timely funding for financing the voter registration and other steps of the elections are required,” he explained.

Yakani also urged the government to provide adequate and timely funding for voter registration and other electoral activities while addressing growing insecurity among communities across the country.

“This is after the national political consensus is reached for election to be conducted as the only peaceful means for transfer of power. Secondly, decisions around the growing insecurity among the communities,” he added.

Yakani said resolving political disagreements, ensuring sufficient funding for the electoral process, and addressing insecurity are critical to creating an environment conducive to peaceful and credible elections.