Nicholas Haysom, the UN Special Representative for South Sudan, held his first press briefing on October 9, following the announcement of a two-year extension to the transitional period, pushing the country’s first democratic elections to December 2026. He emphasized the importance of making this extension count to maintain the trust of the South Sudanese people, stating, “The clock is ticking.”
Haysom echoed UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, urging South Sudan’s leaders to reach compromises and implement key political and operational benchmarks outlined in the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS). He noted the UN’s commitment to support political parties at both national and state levels to prepare for elections.
Among the critical tasks is addressing ten unanswered questions posed to the political class over a year ago, which pertain to the nature of the elections, electoral participation by refugees and internally displaced persons, and proportional representation to ensure that all votes reflect the will of the people.
To foster an enabling environment for elections, the UN and its partners are facilitating political forums across various states. Haysom highlighted the need for a voting process free from intimidation, equal opportunities for politicians to express their views, uncensored media, and an active civil society.
He cited a positive development in Bor, where civil society and national security representatives agreed to collaborate and understand each other’s perspectives, which he believes is vital for a united South Sudanese society.
However, Haysom expressed concerns about proposed amendments to the National Security Service Act, stating that certain clauses undermine democratic principles and could overshadow the elections. He has urged the government to reconsider these amendments.
UNMISS remains focused on strengthening institutional capacities, with the UN Integrated Electoral Assistance Team collaborating with the National Elections Commission for its first induction exercise for State High Elections Committee members.
