Yakani calls for practical and concrete AU action ahead of elections

Civil society leader Edmund Yakani is calling for stronger engagement by the African Union with South Sudanese institutions to help ensure credible and peaceful elections in December.

Mr.Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), made the call ahead of today’s meeting of the African Union High-Level Ad Hoc Committee on South Sudan, known as the AUC5.

The AUC5 is a five-member body established to support South Sudan’s peace process, political transition and implementation of the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement.

Yakani said the AU should use the meeting to strengthen cooperation between the government and all signatories to the peace agreement, particularly on developing an agreed electoral roadmap.

He also said the AU’s recent assessment of South Sudan’s election preparedness should move beyond recommendations and guide technical engagement with national institutions on the political, legal and institutional conditions required for credible elections.

“We are urging AUC5 that they should undertake this opportunity of their meeting tomorrow to make practical and concrete decisions that help South Sudan government work alongside parties signatory to the revitalized agreement 2018 peace agreement to champion a pathway for election in a manner that is credible, inclusive, free and fair,” Yakani said.

Yakani said the elections should be credible, inclusive, peaceful, free and fair, with citizens having confidence in the process.

The AU’s recent assessment examined South Sudan’s readiness for the planned December 2026 elections, including the political, legal, security and technical conditions required for a peaceful poll.