BY Matik Kueth
Some opposition parties have expressed mixed views over the proposal made by the leader of SPLM-IO, Dr Riek Machar, calling for a mediated inter-party dialogue on the subject of election.
Speaking to The City Review on Thursday, the leader of the National Democratic Movement (NDM) and secretary-general of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA), Dr. Lam Akol, said that Machar has the right to say what he wants but he should first seek other political parties’ decisions about whether they can agree to a dialogue ahead of the polls.
“Well, we have been calling for interparty dialogue. First of all, we want people to accept the principle of talking. We should agree to talk. Riek Machar has a right to give whatever condition they want to give that would be difficult later. Or we have to first get the agreement that all of us should agree to talk,” Dr. Akol said.
Deng Bol, Chairperson of the Common People Alliance (CPA), noted that all political parties to the agreement should agree to participate in the pre-election dialogue.
“It is important to emphasise the need for all parties, regardless of their affiliations, to come together and actively participate in this dialogue,” he stressed.
He said this would allow a comprehensive understanding of the concerns and perspectives of all stakeholders involved if a more inclusive and representative decision-making process is created.
“By taking the time to properly prepare and engage in this dialogue, we can pave the way for a successful democratic transition. This will not only strengthen the legitimacy of the electoral process but also foster a sense of trust and cooperation among all parties involved,” he stated.
Bol emphasised the need for the parties to adequately prepare for elections as only a few months remain to conduct the December elections.
He added, “This involves allowing political parties to register and initiating an inclusive political dialogue within the country. By doing so, we can collectively make informed decisions on the way forward and ensure a fair and transparent electoral process.”
However, Abdul Karim Kamuon, spokesperson for Other Political Parties, claimed that they have been calling for dialogue to discuss how the country should go for elections.
“The group of other main parties, OPP, is the first to invite political forces to dialogue and discuss their vision, which they adopted with specific convictions and mechanisms,” he said.
Machar, who wrote to the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (R-JMEC), vowed his support for dialogue with the inclusion of a mediator.
His letter came after R-JMEC wrote to President Salva Kiir to underline the need for a discussion on how to approach the contentious subject of the election.
Maj. Gen. (rd) Charles Gituai, Interim Chairperson of the RJMEC, told President Kiir that there were pending tasks in the deal worth the attention and that a dialogue was necessary to bridge the rifts on the poll question.
Despite the quest for dialogue, the Political Parties Council is ready to register any party willing to take part in the upcoming elections.
On March 20, 2024, the leadership of the Political Parties Council announced during a discussion organised by the South Sudan Civil Society Organisations in Juba that registration fees for the political parties stand at $50,000 besides the other requirements.
According to James Akol, Chairperson of the Political Parties’ Council, the checklist for the political parties is out and it is time to fast-track the process of registration.
Early this year, the leadership of the Political Parties Council announced the registration of the political parties ahead of the December election, giving conditions to meet the requirement.
It also noted that the political parties should provide the list of the party members authorized to sign the party documents on behalf of the party.
VIA City Reviews’s
