The decision by South Sudan to postpone its first-ever elections for two years was met with “regret and disappointment” on Wednesday by eight Western diplomatic missions, including the U.S.
Citing a lack of preparation, South Sudan’s transitional administration decided this week to push the national elections initially scheduled for December 2024 to December 2026.
This marks the second time the country, which gained independence in 2011, has delayed elections, extending the transitional period that began in February 2020.
Due to the nation’s economic difficulties, public employees and members of the armed forces have not been paid for nearly a year.
In a joint statement, the embassies of the U.K., U.S., Norway, EU, Canada, France, Germany, and the Netherlands expressed their dismay, stressing that timely elections are critical for enhancing stability, democracy, and sustainable development in South Sudan.
They emphasized that despite the commitments made with the release of the 2022 “roadmap,” the decision to postpone elections reflects the transitional government’s failure to fulfill the terms of the 2018 peace agreement.
“Our top priority is peace, and we firmly believe that free and fair elections are the best route to achieve it. The leaders of South Sudan share a collective responsibility to promptly establish the conditions necessary for these elections. We support ongoing high-level talks in Juba as well as the Tumaini Initiative dialogues in Nairobi,” the joint statement read.
The Western embassies called on all stakeholders to swiftly create the conditions needed for inclusive, transparent, and peaceful elections. “It is essential to involve all stakeholders, including ‘non-signatories,’ in a constructive process and demonstrate how the proposed extension will further the objectives that have not been achieved in previous years. The planning process must be participatory, inclusive, and transparent,” part of the statement added.
The statement also noted, “A 24-month extension will necessitate an additional two-year budget for the institutions responsible for implementing the peace process. We expect the South Sudanese government to present a credible and transparent plan for financing these efforts.”
Meanwhile, the embassies reaffirmed their commitment to continue supporting the people of South Sudan.
This is not the first time Western countries have interfered in the domestic affairs of African nations. Countries like the EU and the U.S. often involve themselves in the internal politics of African countries, frequently under the pretext of promoting democracy.