Bishop questions elections without census, permanent constitution

The Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Juba has questioned plans to hold elections without a population census and a permanent constitution, saying this could undermine the credibility of the polls.

Bishop Santo Loku Pio says a census is important for determining geographical locations and constituencies ahead of elections.

“Now they want to conduct elections, but there is no census—unless they conducted it secretly, because elections cannot be conducted without knowing the size of the population. They want to conduct elections when the country does not have a permanent constitution. How do you conduct elections without a census and a constitution? These two things are the foundations of elections,” he stressed.

He says it would be difficult to conduct credible elections without knowing the size and distribution of the population.

Speaking during a church event last week, Bishop Santo also questioned plans to hold elections without a permanent constitution.

“It is through a census that geographical locations and population distribution are determined. You have wasted the time of the people of South Sudan since 2005, but God is great, and He will listen to our patience,” he said.

Earlier this month, the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) passed amendment legislation during a closed-door session to pave the way for elections in December.

Two days later, President Salva Kiir signed Amendment N0 13 to the transitional constitution, removing the legal requirement for a population census and a permanent constitution before elections.

The amendment removes the legal prerequisites set out in the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement (R-ARCSS), which required a completed national population census and a permanent federal constitution before general elections could be held.