South Sudan dialogue ends without consensus on elections
Political parties challenged the government's plans for December polls, citing absent conditions for credible elections.
South Sudan's inter-party dialogue concluded last month in Juba without reaching consensus, as political parties questioned the government's push for December elections. Analyst Abraham Awolich stated that participants argued conditions for credible polls were absent and called for postponing the December 22 elections and negotiating a new political arrangement.
Awolich, a former managing director of the Sudd Institute, said the talks failed because the government sought endorsement of President Salva Kiir's decisions rather than consensus on the nation's future. Government representatives insisted the elections should proceed regardless of the prevailing political and security environment.
The dialogue was abandoned without publicly agreed resolutions after attempts to draft a final document without all parties' agreement were dropped. Awolich also linked tensions to the recent firing of Martin Elia Lomuro as cabinet affairs minister, suggesting it would further weaken the government.
Why it mattersThe failure of inter-party dialogue means South Sudanese citizens will not have consensus on the conditions for upcoming elections.