In accordance with Section 16 (1) of the National Election Act of 2023, the National Election Commission (NEC) of South Susan has declared December 22, 2024, as the election date.
The NEC chairperson, Prof. Abednego Akok Kacuol, informed the media on Friday that the registration procedure, which was scheduled to begin in June, had been postponed due to the parties’ inability to reach a consensus on the elections.
“They refer to it as an electoral calendar. According to the electoral calendar, we were supposed to begin registration in June, but we were unable to do so since the political parties could not agree. However, they will be the points brought up or to work with them as of right now, with the announcement of Election Day,” he said. “It’s what’s going to happen. Second, the peace accord serves as our direction. Election Day must be announced while there are still six months until the election, according to the NEC. After that, on December 22, 2014, we shall relocate to February 25, 2025, where elections will take place.
Prof. Akok continued, saying that the commission will now start after the election date is announced.
“The public is informed that, starting now, elections will be held, voter registration will begin, and all electrical activities will continue until December.” And elections will happen right away starting in December,” he emphasized, adding, “I think we have done a lot now with preparedness. The commissioners have received ongoing training, we have visited the states, and on Saturday, commission members will travel to Juba for instruction.
The declaration is made in the midst of growing doubts about how the elections will be run and the status of the peace talks in Nairobi.
Prof. Akok did, however, clarify that the commission’s responsibility included announcing the election date.
As technical experts at the commission, we carry out the terms of the agreement exactly as written. There is a political loophole if we do not announce the election date today,” he stated.
The NEC chairwoman nominated the leaders of the election committees and formed them for each of the 10 states in the nation on June 19. He did not, however, establish committees for Ruweng, Greater Pibor, or Abyei, the three administrative regions.
Prof. Akok responded that he will choose state committee chairs following the commission meeting when questioned about what would happen to these three administrative divisions.
After gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan will hold its first elections in December.
