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As South Sudan, the world’s youngest country, marks its 13th anniversary of independence, Norway calls on its leaders to seek a lasting peace and prepare for elections.
In a congratulatory message celebrating South Sudan’s independence, Norwegian Ambassador to South Sudan Lincoln Nieman Berryman said Norway has stood with the citizens of this African country for more than half a century.
“Driven by the values of freedom, democracy, gender equality and human rights, we have provided support during difficult times and, 13 years on from independence, we expect more,” Berryman said.
“We continue to stand with the people of South Sudan. Norway’s support for the people of South Sudan continues in many ways, most recently with our support for the Toumani Initiative,” she added.
Norwegian diplomats called on South Sudan’s political leaders to unite the people, prepare for general elections and open up civic space.
“Political leaders are the guardians of the well-being of their people. We continue to urge South Sudan’s transitional government to find a unifying solution and urge leaders to engage in genuine dialogue.
“We want to see the necessary preparations for peaceful, credible elections, including the unification of the armed forces, the opening of civic and political space, and credible, independent electoral institutions,” she said.
South Sudan’s National Electoral Commission (NEC) announced December 22, 2024 The date of election as per Section 16(1) of the National Elections Act 2023.
The head of the National Electoral Commission told media last week that voter registration, originally scheduled to begin in June, had been delayed due to delays in agreeing on elections by parties to the 2018 peace deal.
Despite the plans announced by the National Electoral Commission, the feasibility of South Sudan’s December 2024 elections – the country’s first since independence in July 2011 – is increasingly in doubt.
Although peace has officially returned to South Sudan since a 2018 agreement ended a five-year civil war that killed hundreds of thousands of people, violence has frequently flared up between rival communities.
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