International delegates attending a three-day forum in South Sudan have cautioned that time is quickly running out to organize credible elections in the country. The warning comes as the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity, formed in 2020, has already postponed elections three times.
The forum, co-hosted by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the African Union, brought together political, security, and civil society leaders to address key electoral challenges. Nicholas Haysom, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for South Sudan and head of UNMISS, emphasized that international funding for the elections would only be available if the South Sudanese leadership demonstrated the political will to implement the electoral roadmap.
“There is not one penny coming for these elections if the South Sudanese don’t show the commitment to making them happen,” Haysom stated. He warned that further delays would erode public confidence in the country’s political future.
Joram Biswaro, head of the African Union Mission in South Sudan, echoed the concerns, stressing that the time for inaction had passed. He urged leaders to break away from ineffective past approaches and take decisive steps toward democratic progress.
The forum focused on finalizing transitional security measures, drafting a permanent constitution, and preparing for the elections. Despite the challenges, Kuol Manyang Juuk, Chair of the National Transitional Committee, reassured attendees that elections would take place at the end of the current transitional period.