A lawmaker in South Sudan, David De Dau, has proposed a five-year tenure for President Salva Kiir Mayardit to allow sufficient time to solve the country’s problems and conduct democratic elections.
He proposed this in a letter to the president dated January 2, 2024, stating that the two-year period was inadequate to ensure the smooth running of the transition period in the country.
De Dau is the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) member representing Twic East County of Jonglei State and a party member of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA).
“I propose a five-year term with the following amendments in the structure of the government of South Sudan; creation of a lean government that would be effective in its nature of governance and service delivery to the people of South Sudan. A five-year government that would make County or local governments more attractive to the people of South Sudan,” he said.
The lawmaker said “During the five years, the first arm of the government; the National Legislature ought to be reduced to the numbers of the formerly elected Members of Parliament.”
De Dau expressed fear ahead of the scheduled elections in December 2024, that this could jeopardise the legitimacy of the transitional administration and could spark violent strife in the youngest country in the world.
“The approaching year, 2024, signifies an election year as per the R-ARCSS calendar, extended through the Road Map Agreement. The purpose of elections is to confer legitimacy upon the existing government,” the South Sudan lawmaker said.
“However, if these elections are marred by irregularities, organizational deficiencies, and mismanagement, the issue of legitimacy persists as a significant concern. Instead of this, I am putting forth this uncommon proposal, prioritizing the welfare of our people and the preservation of lives and property,” he said.
The lawmaker stressed that “Rather than solely adhering to the electoral timeline, this proposal advocates for a shift in focus towards the greater good. The emphasis is on averting potential irregularities that could compromise the legitimacy of the government.”
“The preservation of lives and property becomes paramount, setting the stage for a proposal that transcends political timelines in favour of the well-being and stability of the nation,” he added.
De Dau cited problems like unresolved conflicts, population displacement, and unfinished reforms as just a few of the reasons why the nation needed additional time before holding its first-ever election.
According to De Dau, South Sudan is still dealing with insecurity and dispersed armed forces, and many of its citizens are still displaced as a result of the civil war and need rehabilitation before they can return home. The country was thrown into violence in December 2013 as a result of a power struggle between President Kiir and First Vice President Machar.
The congressman asked for a commitment to expand democratic space and support political parties. He also suggested a five-year term with a leaner government, with an emphasis on development, local empowerment, and peacebuilding.
“Those MPs who were elected to Parliament in 2010 should reconstitute the next Parliament as the current Transitional Parliament gracefully ends their peace mission for South Sudan and to usher in a new political era for consolidating permanent peace in the country. The new Parliament should be democratic enough to handle the affairs of the Parliament in the best interest of the public,” he continued.