New York, August 20 (QNA) – The United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan warned on Thursday that the country’s first national elections since independence, scheduled for late this year, could fuel renewed conflict and increase the risk of atrocities if security and human rights safeguards remain absent, amid the lack of a strategy to consolidate democracy and prevent national divisions.
The Commission, established by the UN Human Rights Council, said in a statement that multiple risk factors for atrocity crimes were converging with the resumption of armed conflict in several parts of the country, the abandonment of inclusive policies, the shrinking of civic space, and weakened constitutional safeguards.
It stressed that without a return to genuine and inclusive dialogue, political competition surrounding the elections could deepen existing divisions instead of providing a peaceful means of resolving them. It emphasized that peaceful democracy cannot be built on armed conflict, fear and exclusion.
The Commission said South Sudanese had waited 15 years to cast their votes for the first time as citizens of an independent state, adding that they deserved free, peaceful and democratic elections that gave them a voice rather than putting their lives at risk.
It warned that proceeding with elections without addressing shortcomings in the implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement in South Sudan could result in elections lacking the conditions necessary for peaceful competition, meaningful participation and public trust. (QNA)