EU Denies Delaying South Sudan Elections

The European Union delegation in South Sudan has denied reports that it is working to delay elections in the country.

The European Union delegation in South Sudan has denied reports that it is working to delay elections in the country. Deputy Head of the EU Delegation Lothar Jaschke said Thursday that his group is fully supporting an environment to enable elections, a constitution and transitional justice.

President Kiir had alleged on Saturday that Western powers wanted to delay elections, but he did not explain how they were doing that. Kiir said he was committed to ensuring elections proceed in December as planned and warned that a postponement would spark violence.

South Sudan is due to hold its first election in December, but crucial processes that include the adoption of a permanent constitution and a unified police force are not in place.

Last week, the interim chairperson of an international commission to oversee South Sudan's 2015 peace agreement, Charles Tai Gituai of Kenya, said there was no evidence of sufficient preparation to conduct elections. He cited the lack of electoral bodies at the state level and a delay in the publishing of a voters register.

The EU delegation's denial comes as South Sudan faces a number of challenges, including an economic crisis and ongoing violence in some parts of the country. The country is also struggling to implement the terms of a peace agreement that was signed in 2018.

The EU has been a major donor to South Sudan since it gained independence from Sudan in 2011. The EU has provided financial assistance for a variety of projects, including education, health, and infrastructure. The EU has also been involved in efforts to promote peace and reconciliation in South Sudan.

In its statement, the EU delegation said that it is "committed to supporting the people of South Sudan in their efforts to build a peaceful and democratic future." The delegation said that it will continue to work with the government of South Sudan and other partners to support the implementation of the peace agreement and the holding of free and fair elections.

Despite the challenges, the EU delegation said that it believes that South Sudan has the potential to build a better future. The delegation said that it is "confident that the people of South Sudan will overcome the challenges they face and build a prosperous and democratic country."