The Chairperson of the National Election Commission, Honorable Gabriel Bol Deng met with officials of the African Union’s Political Affairs, Peace a...
The Chairperson of the National Election Commission, Honorable Gabriel Bol Deng met with officials of the African Union’s Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department headed by Ambassddor Bankole Adeoyeat the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia om Tuesday.Speaking on the National Elections Commission's state of preparedness to conduct the December polls, the NEC Chairperson highlighted that voter registration is scheduled to begin in early November.“Everything is set, we will launch it and move quickly to carry out the voter registrationacross the country.” Said Honorable Bol.He further said the primary hurdle facing the process is a lack of adequate resources for civic and voter education, voter registration, and required logistics. However, he assured the AU officials that the Government of South Sudan remains committed to providing the necessary funding. Honorable Bol urged the African Union to support the polls in South Sudan.He said the government has so far provided finances to the commission which has enabled it carry out several activities including the acquisition of the NEC Headquarters building, launch of civic and voter education and production of voter registrationdocuments.The AU reiterated its commitment to supporting elections in South Sudan.AU said it’s inthe process of dispatching electionexperts to South Sudan.“We are working on logistical arrangements to send experts to help NEC, we want at least one expert to be based in Juba for a considerable amount of time to fully support the elections.” Said Director, Governance and Conflict Prevention, Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Patience Zanelie Chiradza. The African Union said it wants to help in creating election situation room in South Sudan where various institutions and organization including civil society organizations, media and government institutions can converge to not only monitor the elections but also compare notes on the democratic process.AU further said it would like to have an election roadmap from NEC so that it can mobilize more resources to support the process."Given the little time that we have, we are ready to support trainings, civic and voter education.We know Nigeria has offered to support South Sudan’s elections, we will ask other member states to help as well." Added Ms. Zanelie.The NEC Chairperson also met with Ambassador Dr. Mohamed Khaled, the Ambassador of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union.Ambassador Dr. Mohamed said his country is ready to support South Sudan's elections, he has urged NEC to urgently send a request of what its priorities are and Algeria will be ready to support in accordance with its capability.NEC chair said the institution has already recruited 22,127 workers who will be deployed to manage the polls planned for December 22.“South Africa has offered to help NEC as well and it has already provided some inkind assistance.” Said NEC Chairperson, Honorable Bol.South Sudan is scheduled to hold general elections in December 2026, three months prior to the expiration of the 2018 Peace Agreement, which mandates the country's transition to a democratic system of governance.The polls will be the first for the East African country which gained independence in 2011
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