Lord Benyon, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL2824):
Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool:
To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of concerns about a lack of preparedness for the holding of elections in South Sudan, as expressed in the discussion paper How (not) to hold elections in South Sudan published by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in April 2023. (HL2824)
Tabled on: 28 February 2024
Answer:
Lord Benyon:
Implementation of South Sudan’s Peace Agreement, including election preparations, are behind schedule. The UK continues to press for implementation of South Sudan’s Peace Agreement and a peaceful transition to democracy through peaceful, credible and inclusive elections. We urge the Government of South Sudan to implement a credible electoral process for elections. Electoral credibility, the opening of political and civic space, empowering the armed forces, and the funding and operationalisation of the electoral institutions are necessary to mitigate the risk of violence and allow elections to be as safe and inclusive as possible.
Date and time of answer: 13 Mar 2024 at 17:35.
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Lord Benyon, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL2825):
Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool:
To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the remarks of the chairman of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission that there is a lack of political agreement in South Sudan to enable free and credible elections to take place; and whether they intend to make representations to the government of South Sudan on voter registration and expediting the work of the National Elections Commission. (HL2825)
Tabled on: 28 February 2024
Answer:
Lord Benyon:
The UK has taken note of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission Chairman’s comments and calls on the South Sudanese Government to expand political and civic space. The voices of South Sudan’s diverse population, including those who hold opposing views, must be heard to ensure peaceful, credible and inclusive elections. We welcome the passing of South Sudan’s National Elections Act in September 2023, but note that this was 13 months behind the transitional government’s timelines set out in their Roadmap. We urge the Government of South Sudan to operationalise this law by reconstituting, adequately financing and empowering electoral institutions, including the National Elections Commission.
Date and time of answer: 13 Mar 2024 at 17:37.
