Presidency says talk of general elections premature

[Elisabeth Janaina]

Presidency says talk of general elections premature
File photo: President Salva Kiir
File photo: President Salva Kiir

South Sudan’s presidency said Monday that it was still too early to
talk of the 2018 presidential elections, and used the occasion to
reiterate the government’s ability to hold general elections.

This comes after the United Nations warned South Sudan against holding
elections before the ongoing war ends, saying South Sudan government
should delay elections until the civil war ends.

Ateny Wek Ateny, South Sudan’s presidential spokesman, told Radio
Tamazuj yesterday that it was premature to talk of the possibility of
holding the presidential election in 2018.

He explained that the people of South Sudan should not talk about
general elections before the transitional period ends.

Chapter 1, Article 16 of the signed peace agreement is about general
elections in South Sudan. According to the 2015 peace deal, the
elections must take place 60 days before the end of the transitional
period, which will be in 2018.