Ramaphosa: Elections Alone Won’t Secure Peace in South Sudan

(PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA) – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has cautioned that elections alone will not guarantee peace and democracy in South Sudan, stressing the need for an inclusive political process and improved security ahead of the country’s planned polls.

Ramaphosa, who chairs the African Union High-Level Ad Hoc Committee on South Sudan (C5), said credible elections require adequate security arrangements and protection for civilians as well as electoral workers.

Speaking on Tuesday during a virtual meeting of the C5 attended by President Salva Kiir, Ramaphosa also underscored the importance of establishing a clear legal framework, ensuring sufficient funding, and strengthening institutional capacity before the elections scheduled for 22 December.

The meeting brought together representatives from the five C5 member states, namely South Africa, Algeria, Chad, Nigeria and Rwanda, alongside member states of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), to review South Sudan’s political and security situation and assess progress on commitments made under the peace process.

According to the UN Radio Miraya, the leaders discussed key challenges facing the country’s transition and emphasized the need for coordinated efforts to create conditions for peaceful, credible and inclusive elections.