Eastern Equatoria State on Saturday launched its State High Election Committee office and a statewide civic and voter education campaign, as authorities stepped up preparations for general elections in December.
The launch in Torit brought together state officials, representatives of political parties, civil society groups and election stakeholders, who pledged to support voter education and registration across the state.
Abdalla Hassan Famai, chairperson of the State High Election Committee, said the campaign would cover all eight counties and administrative areas, with officials travelling to communities to explain voter registration procedures and the electoral process.
“We are going to visit the eight counties and administrative areas, explaining to the people how they can go for election because election is an inclusive activity,” Famai said.
He said the committee aimed to reach every accessible county, payam and boma, subject to security conditions.
Famai also urged county authorities and local communities to verify existing polling stations and recommend changes where populations have shifted. He said voter registration would be conducted by local residents rather than officials brought in from outside the communities.
“If you refuse to register your people, it is up to you, not ours,” he said, calling on local authorities and traditional leaders to cooperate in identifying registration and polling centres.
Representatives of political parties pledged to support the electoral process.
Angelo William Geri, representing the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA), encouraged citizens to register, saying participation in elections was both a constitutional right and a civic duty.
“If you don’t participate, that means you are not patriotic enough,” he said.
Margret Itoo Leonardo, deputy chairperson of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in Eastern Equatoria, said the party had completed preparations from the state level to the grassroots.
“Even if election is today, we are ready,” she said.
Ochola Bosco Oringa, a member of the SPLM-IO National Liberation Council in Eastern Equatoria, said his party would work with the electoral committee to support civic education while preparing to contest the polls.
Peter Gumo, representing the Other Political Parties (OPP), described civic education as essential to democracy and said his party was ready for the elections.
Vicky Kulang, deputy chairperson of the Eastern Equatoria State Civil Society Network, called for cooperation among government institutions, traditional leaders, faith-based organisations, the media and development partners to ensure voter education reached women, young people, persons with disabilities and remote communities.
She also urged young people to reject misinformation, hate speech and violence.
“An informed citizen is an empowered citizen, and an empowered citizen is the foundation of credible and peaceful elections,” she said.
Deputy Governor Karlo Andrew Akwo Ajerry called on residents to cooperate with election officials and register in their respective communities, saying broad public participation was essential after years of political transition.
Governor Louis Lobong Lojore, who officially inaugurated the committee’s office, said the launch reflected the state’s commitment to democratic governance and instructed the committee to begin civic and voter education campaigns immediately across all counties, payams and bomas.
He also directed county commissioners to prioritise outreach in remote areas before urban centres and pledged the state government’s support for the electoral process.
South Sudan is due to hold its first general elections since gaining independence in 2011 on Dec. 22, following several postponements linked to delays in implementing the country’s 2018 peace agreement.
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