JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — The European Union delegation in South Sudan has denied reports that it is working to postpone the country’s elections, as claimed by President Salva Kiir.
Deputy head of the EU delegation Lothar Jaschke said on Thursday that his group fully supports an environment that allows elections, a constitution and transitional justice.
President Kiir had claimed on Saturday that Western powers wanted to postpone the elections, but he did not explain how they did so. Kiir said he would work to ensure the December election goes ahead as planned, warning that delay would lead to violence.
South Sudan will hold its first elections in December, but crucial processes such as the adoption of a permanent constitution and a unified police force are not yet underway.
Last week, the interim chairman of an international commission tasked with overseeing South Sudan’s 2015 peace deal, Kenya’s Charles Tai Gituai, said there was no evidence of sufficient preparation to hold elections. He cited the lack of electoral bodies at state level and a delay in publishing a voter register.
South Sudan is also experiencing an economic crisis, with reduced oil exports due to the war in neighboring Sudan. Civil servants have not been paid for months.