By Enyichukwu Enemanna
South Sudan President, Salva Kiir has announced the removal of the head of the East African country’s electoral body, Abednego Akok Kacuol just three months before the country’s first election.
Kacuol was fired from his position as chairperson of the National Elections Commission but no reason was given for his sack.
He will be replaced by Gabriel Bol Deng Majok, who served as the electoral commission’s secretary general.
Akok, 71, was appointed as chairperson of the electoral body in August 2012 and reappointed in November 2023 after the commission was reconstituted under a 2018 peace agreement that ended a five-year civil war.
South Sudan has repeatedly postponed elections since gaining independence in 2011, citing delays in implementing the peace deal.
The transitional period and implementation of the 2018 peace agreement has been extended several times.
Under the current road map, the transitional government is expected to be dissolved on Sept. 22 and elections are set for Dec. 22, ahead of the transitional period expiring in February.
Experts say the leadership change in the electoral body could impact the elections.
The appointment of the new head has raised questions over the legal process for the removal of an electoral body chairperson.
The National Elections Act sets out a specific procedure and lists grounds for removal including proven partiality, inability to perform duties and gross misconduct.
Policy analyst Boboya James Edmond said the decision failed to meet legal requirements.
“The president has no sole authority under the law in South Sudan to remove the chairperson of the National Electoral Commission unless the detailed procedures are followed,” said Boboya, the chief executive officer of the Institute of Social Policy Research in South Sudan.
The U.N. Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan warned last week that elections without safeguards and inclusive political dialogue could fuel renewed conflict.
