By Otto Abut
The outgoing Apostolic Nuncio to South Sudan has questioned the fate of the elections expected in December 2024 citing that the timeframe is limited for a country to conduct a free and fair election.
The Envoy of the Holy Father spoke to Catholic Radio Network in an Exclusive interview on Wednesday, August 7, 2024.
His Grace Monsignor Bert van Megen has raised concerns that he is in disbelief the election would happen due to several factors including financial constraints and little time remaining to December.
He described the election as one of the most expensive exercises that a country like South Sudan can hardly afford, relating to the current economic crisis.
The Nuncio said besides economic crises that resulted from the shutting off of the oil refinery, the country lacks essential features of elections, including lack of political space, insecurity, and civic education, among others.
Clip 1 Nuncio
“Let me first of all say this very frankly I find it hard to understand how you are going to organize elections in December while we are now at the beginning of August and hardly anything has happened yet, how is that exactly going to work? I find that hard to believe even in a developed country that would be difficult to pull up.”
“And then in a country like South Sudan with all the geographic challenges, the lack of infrastructure would be even more difficult, for me there are many questions mark on that one.” He added.
Bert Van Megen also said there are many political questions that one would have to ask, especially the credibility, fairness, and transparency of the election if it is to be conducted as planned on 22nd December 2024.
Clip 2 Nuncio
“If going to organize these elections, is it fair enough, you try, are they going to be fair and transparent? Who is going to participate in this election? Who will come to the voting stations? Who is going to vote there? Is that one real representation at that point? So these are all like political questions one would have to ask.”
The South Sudan electoral commission announced that the election would be held on 22nd December this year.