UN Commission South Sudan: Election Risk High, Warns of Atrocity Crimes

• The UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan warned that critical safeguards for peaceful elections are largely absent.
• South Sudan is scheduled to hold its first national elections since independence on December 22.
• The commission identified converging risk factors for atrocity crimes, including renewed conflict and weakened civic space.
• Elections without a strategy for democratic consolidation could fuel renewed conflict and heighten atrocity risks.
• Commission Chair Yasmin Sooka stated South Sudanese deserve elections that give them a voice, not ones that put their lives at risk.

The UN commission clarified that its primary concern is not whether elections should occur, but rather ensuring that South Sudanese citizens can exercise their electoral rights freely, safely, and without intimidation, in a manner that genuinely advances the country's democratic transformation.

The United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan has issued a stark warning regarding the country's upcoming national elections, scheduled for December 22. On Wednesday, the commission highlighted a critical absence of fundamental political, security, and human rights safeguards necessary for a credible and peaceful electoral process that could genuinely foster democratic change. This advisory comes as South Sudan prepares for its inaugural national ballot since gaining independence in 2011.

In its comprehensive advisory, titled "At the Brink: Preventing Atrocity Crimes and Safeguarding South Sudan’s Transition," the UN body identified a dangerous convergence of multiple risk factors that could lead to atrocity crimes. The commission's assessment underscores a precarious situation where the foundational elements for a stable and democratic transition are largely missing, raising significant concerns about the integrity and outcomes of the electoral exercise.

The commission detailed several critical areas of concern contributing to the heightened UN Commission South Sudan election risk. These include the resurgence of armed conflict across various regions of the nation, signaling a deterioration of security. Furthermore, the report points to a deliberate move away from inclusive political practices, alongside a noticeable weakening of both civic space and essential constitutional safeguards designed to protect citizens' rights.

Adding to these challenges, the country continues to lack robust accountability mechanisms, leaving a void where justice should prevail. A significant portion of the population remains marginalized, effectively excluded from meaningful participation in the political landscape. The commission explicitly cautioned that conducting elections without a clear strategy for democratic consolidation and without addressing the potential for national divisions could inadvertently ignite renewed conflict and elevate the risk of atrocity crimes.

Yasmin Sooka, a distinguished South African human rights lawyer and chair of the UN Commission, articulated the profound implications of these findings. She emphasized that the people of South Sudan have patiently awaited 15 years to cast their initial votes as citizens of an independent state, asserting their fundamental right to elect their government through free, peaceful, and democratic means. Sooka stressed that the populace deserves an election that empowers their voice, rather than jeopardizing their lives.

Sooka further explained that a sustainable, peaceful democracy cannot be constructed upon a foundation of ongoing armed conflict, pervasive fear, and systemic exclusion. She observed with concern that the very safeguards established to avert a return to widespread conflict are currently being dismantled as the nation progresses towards the ballot box. The UN commission clarified that its primary concern is not whether elections should occur, but rather ensuring that South Sudanese citizens can exercise their electoral rights freely, safely, and without intimidation, in a manner that genuinely advances the country's democratic transformation.

Source: Original reporting via AllAfrica.