SOUTH SUDAN / POLITICAL PARTIES FORUM

As South Sudan races against the clock to complete its peaceful democratic transition through the conduct of its first national elections in December 2024, progress on achieving outstanding peace benchmarks as well as putting in place the technical, logistical, operational, and political framework for an electoral process that is acceptable to all, is lagging.

As part of larger efforts to galvanize consensus and political will among parties to the 2018 peace deal, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), recently supported a discussion-based forum hosted by South Sudan’s reconstituted Political Parties Council.

The event brought together political actors and civil society representatives to agree upon a Code of Conduct that will govern the actions of political parties as elections draw closer.

SOUNDBITE (English) Ismail Wais, Ambassador, Igad Special Envoy to South Sudan:
“The adoption of the Code of Conduct, therefore, comes at a critical time as South Sudan prepares for elections in December, which is [in] just about nine months 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.”

The way forward for South Sudan is heavily dependent on widespread public participation in peace processes, as well as a robust, competitive space for political parties.

SOUNDBITE (English) Guang Cong, Deputy Special Representative-Political, UNMISS:
“We're encouraged that they have agreed to engage in continued constructive dialogue to build consensus regarding what type of elections will take place, the constitution-making process and discuss[ing] the mechanism or the future of the transitional security arrangements process and an election security plan.”

As mandated, UNMISS and regional partners hold regular consultations with political parties.

SOUNDBITE (English) Joram Biswaro, Ambassador, African Union Mission in South Sudan:
“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. On that note, I wish to congratulate you; the parties have gone through these other tasks, which I believe is wonderful as it takes into account the interests of the South Sudanese people.”

Through such events, the UN Peacekeeping mission aims to solve outstanding issues and build trust among political players, as part of its mandate to support ongoing peace processes.

SOUNDBITE (English) James Akol Zakayo, Chair, Political Parties Council:
“This Code of Conduct of political parties shall be enacted in accordance with the provision of Article 25 and, together with the provision of section A31 of the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan [2011] which grants the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity exclusive pride, exclusive legislative powers over-regulation of political parties. The provisions of this code of Conduct shall apply to all political parties that will register in the Republic of South Sudan.”

According to Guy Bennett, Chief of Political Affairs at UNMISS, such ongoing discussions are vital in creating a conducive environment for timely elections.

SOUNDBITE (English) Guy Bennett, Chief, Political Affairs, UNMISS:
“The political parties forum today was a continuation of previous forums. What we are aiming to do today was to support a Code of Conduct, either mandatory or voluntary, between the political parties in the presence of the political parties council. The output itself was a voluntary Code of Conduct agreed to by the political parties themselves that I think is a positive and shows their collegiate wish to move towards an elections and have an electoral process and a code of conduct that builds upon best practice within the region and I think that was the main output and that was the positive derived from it.”