South Sudan Gears Up for First National Elections with New Code of Conduct

Juba, South Sudan – As South Sudan prepares for its first national elections slated for December 2024, a significant stride was made with the adoption of a Code of Conduct for political parties. This crucial development comes at a time when the country is earnestly working to lay down the groundwork for a fair and peaceful electoral process.

During a forum on April 4th, hosted by South Sudan's reconstituted Political Parties Council and supported by the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), political actors alongside civil society representatives gathered to validate this new Code of Conduct. The code aims to clearly outline acceptable behaviors and ensure accountability for actions deviating from set expectations.

Ismail Wais, Igad's Special Envoy to South Sudan, highlighted the importance of the code, stating, “The adoption of the Code of Conduct comes at a critical time [...] A code of conduct for political parties [is an] essential ingredient for peaceful elections, as it will assist the parties to demarcate acceptable and prohibited conduct and ensure accountability for actions that are not in line with expectations.”

Building Consensus and Ensuring Fair Play

The event marks a pivotal effort by UNMISS and other stakeholders, including the African Union mission, to promote consensus and encourage political will among the parties to the 2018 peace deal. Joram Biswaro, Ambassador of the African Union mission in South Sudan, expressed satisfaction with the progress, noting, “UNMISS and the other stakeholders encourage us to support this process to the extent that we are here to see this Code of Conduct today being validated.”

South Sudan is currently focused on achieving peace benchmarks and establishing the necessary technical, logistical, operational, and political frameworks to support a fair electoral process. These efforts are crucial for facilitating a robust, competitive political environment and broad public participation in the peace processes.

UNMISS's Role and Future Prospects

As part of its mandate, UNMISS holds regular consultations with political parties to address ongoing issues and foster trust among the political entities. The mission's support is geared towards not only overseeing the adherence to the Code of Conduct but also ensuring that the upcoming elections contribute to the stabilization and development of South Sudan.

The successful implementation of the Code of Conduct and the active involvement of all political stakeholders are seen as vital to the legitimacy and success of the forthcoming elections. With these measures in place, South Sudan hopes to create a conducive environment for democratic governance and continued peacebuilding.

As the nation races against time, the commitment demonstrated by its political leaders and the support from international partners could indeed mark the beginning of a new democratic chapter in South Sudan's history. The world watches as South Sudan takes these critical steps towards conducting its first national elections, which many hope will be a milestone in the country’s journey towards lasting peace and stability.