By John Agok
The Chairperson of the South Sudan Women Leaders for Peace Norah Zangabeyo has called on the transitional government and UN Agencies to support civil society organizations to undertake voter education and civic awareness ahead of the 2024 elections.
“We are appealing to all the international organizations, UN family and government as well to start strategizing on how best they can pour resources to support CSOs to start empowering citizens on voter education and civic education, and also train political parties to start registering their political parties legally,” Zangabeyo said during town hall meeting held in Juba on Monday.
The meeting brought together stakeholders and CSOs to discuss on good governance and civic education in the country.
Zangabeyo disclosed that only 14 out of 58 political parties are legally registered under the 2012 Political Parties Act, to participate in the upcoming elections to be held near the end of the extended transitional period in 2025.
She also emphasized the need to educate the public on electoral laws in order to empower them to fully participate in the elections.
“We need to educate our masses so that they can claim their civic space, and for the leadership to put them at the center of decision-making,” Zangabeyo said.
The town hall meeting was organized by South Sudan for Democratic Network (SSUNDE) with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
Sudan for Democratic Network (SSUNDE) with support from UNDP and UNMISS.