AU envoy calls for international support for South Sudan elections

The African Union envoy for the Horn of Africa, Jakaya Kikwete, has called for increased international support for South Sudan’s upcoming elections, warning that failure to fund the polls could lead to a deeper political and security crisis.

Kikwete, who is the AU’s High Representative for the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, made the remarks during a briefing to the UN Security Council on Tuesday.

He raised concerns over a funding gap for the planned elections, saying the South Sudanese government does not appear to have enough resources to finance the polls.

“The government does not seem to have enough resources to be able to finance these elections. That’s why they need support and some countries have expressed readiness, but some have not yet,” he said.

He noted that several countries had expressed readiness to support the government in conducting the elections but urged more international partners to provide assistance.

Kikwete warned that failure to adequately support the polls could worsen the country’s political and security situation.

“So, whatever can be done to assist the government of South Sudan, so that at least we have peaceful elections under the circumstances, so that we don’t have to end up with a bigger political and security crisis,” he stated.

The Tuesday briefing also featured remarks from Anita Kiki Gbeho, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), and a civil society representative.