UN warns South Sudan elections could reignite conflict

The United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan has issued a stark warning: elections planned for December 22 could plunge the nation back into widespread conflict and potentially lead to horrific crimes. The commission's president, Yasmin Sooka, highlighted the deep desire of South Sudanese citizens to vote for the first time in 15 years but stressed that this right should not come at the cost of their lives.

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The South Sudanese have waited 15 years to cast their first vote as citizens of an independent state. They have the right to choose their government through free, peaceful, and democratic elections. They deserve elections that give them a voice, not ones that put their lives at risk.

"They deserve elections that give them a voice, not ones that put their lives at risk," Sooka stated. She emphasized that a peaceful democracy cannot be founded on armed conflict, fear, and exclusion. The commission's report points to several critical risk factors, including the potential resumption of fighting, persistent corruption, weakened constitutional safeguards, and a lack of accountability mechanisms.

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A peaceful democracy cannot be built on the basis of armed conflict, fear, and exclusion.

Commissioner Barney Afako added that South Sudan is still in a transitional phase aimed at breaking cycles of violence. "Elections must not be allowed to generate another violent battlefield," he declared. He also reiterated that the nation cannot build a democratic future by excluding dissenting voices, urging parties to engage in genuine dialogue and rebuild consensus to create conditions for political competition without violence.

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South Sudan is still in a transition aimed at breaking cycles of violence and repression. Elections must not be allowed to generate another violent battlefield.

Another commissioner, Carlos Castresana Fernández, underscored that the credibility of an election hinges not just on its occurrence but on citizens voting without fear, opposition parties participating freely, independent dispute resolution, and institutions that limit power. "Without these guarantees, the vote risks becoming another scenario for conflict, rather than a path to overcome it," he warned. The article also briefly touches on the history of South Sudan's conflict, stemming from a 2013 power struggle that led to a civil war causing over 400,000 deaths and millions of displaced people, with the 2018 peace agreement remaining largely stalled.

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Credible elections are not simply because they are held on schedule, but when citizens can vote without fear, political opponents can participate freely, courts can resolve disputes independently, and institutions can limit the exercise of power.