EU launches policy brief titled “How to hold Elections”
It is an important moment. Elections are critical to the renewed transitional period which starts in two weeks. So far we have not seen a plan for how the Government wants to steer the transitional period. The more so we are happy about this project’s activities to encourage raising voices and creating momentum for civic and political education.
Raising voices was important in 2015 when the country wanted elections. It did not. It went to renewed violence. Raising voices was important in 2022 when the country wanted elections. It did not. It went to an extension and then to another extension.
But raising voices remains important, essential for a conducive environment, for political and civic space which any democracy needs like a fish needs water, like a flower needs the rain, like we need oxygen.
In 2024 when the country wanted to go to elections the Friedrich Ebert Foundation organized three round tables called How not to hold elections. The idea was to prepare for elections by learning from the past. The fourth roundtable was called How to Prepare for Elections. This was supposed to be a sign of confidence that it is possible to hold elections if political decisions are taken and the National Electoral Commission is allowed to go ahead.
I think we should similarly read the launch today. It is possible to organize elections in December 2026 and to have an inclusive and transparent electoral process if the political decisions are taken, the famous ten points are addressed and most importantly, the National Electoral Commission is allowed to present its timelines for preparing the elections and then deliver on them. As our Managing Director underlined during her visit to Juba, the clock is ticking, the time to act is now.
Next to civic and political education, one of the most important measures for holding credible elections is preparations for voter registration. Let me add progress in the unification of forces and ensuring voter security to the list.
Progress in these areas will be conducive to international support. Lack of progress – as we have witnessed so far – and political will are rather discouraging. To convince Brussels to support Juba we need positive news from Juba, but not a standstill.
We support elections worldwide through electoral assistance and electoral observation. Elections give people a sense of participation in the governance of their country. They legitimize those who govern and create accountability. Those who are elected have not won a prize but bear the responsibility to serve the public. And are accountable to the public.
The European Union was the first and remains the largest donor concerning support for an enabling environment for holding elections. But elections are not an objective in itself, they should lead to something, to a peaceful stable, and democratic country. They will certainly lead to the end of the transitional period.
Other tasks are critical, not for elections, but for the future of the country: the constitution-making process where the population will again have a say in institutional governance. Transitional justice is where citizens can address their wrongs and rights during the civil wars.
The EU is a strong supporter of the peace process since the signing of the first peace agreement in 2015. Our overriding objective is peace. We also support the ongoing Tumaini talks to come to a more inclusive peace process.
The European Union supports South Sudan in transitioning to a stable, peaceful, and democratic society. Let us take the first concrete step with the elections, accompanied by a strong civil society.
