Government says elections remain on track as U.S. calls for credible conditions

He said consultations among stakeholders are continuing and emphasized that all participants should be allowed to freely express their views as part of the national dialogue process.

“The issues of governance, corruption, security, elections – we want to make sure that there are going to be elections, the political party dialogue. These are the issues of concern that have been in the media all the time. We are discussing, and the discussion was good, where everybody has a right to say what he thinks, what should be put right or what is not going well,” Kuol Manyang said.

Meanwhile, United States Ambassador to South Sudan Michael J. Adler said Washington is not seeking to dictate the country’s political direction but expects conditions that would allow peaceful and credible elections.

Adler said the U.S. has two main expectations if the transitional government proceeds with elections: creating a peaceful environment for the vote and ensuring the electoral process is financed through public revenue.

He also stressed the importance of genuine political dialogue involving all major political actors.

Adler noted that meaningful dialogue cannot take place while opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar remains under arrest and facing trial, calling for urgent steps to facilitate inclusive political engagement.

The ambassador further urged the government to prioritize the proper use of public resources to pay salaries and fund essential public services, including healthcare, particularly amid concerns over the Ebola threat.

“The United States’ priority in South Sudan is not to impose a political or ideological model on this country. If the transitional government wants to hold elections, we only have two expectations: first, that conditions are established for a peaceful process; secondly, that elections are funded using public revenue,” Adler said.

He added that public funds should also be directed toward paying civil servants and supporting basic services such as health.

The meeting comes as South Sudan continues preparations for long-awaited elections under the transitional roadmap, with government officials and international partners highlighting security, political inclusion and adequate financing as critical requirements for a credible electoral process.