Ramaphosa presses Kiir on South Sudan's December election
South Africa's president, who chairs the African Union committee on South Sudan, told Salva Kiir that political, security and logistical problems must be settled before the 22 December vote.
Tshwane — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has met his South Sudanese counterpart, Salva Kiir Mayardit, in Tshwane to discuss preparations for South Sudan's elections, which are scheduled for 22 December.
Ramaphosa chairs the African Union's High-Level Ad Hoc Committee on South Sudan. According to Africanews and the Associated Press, he urged Kiir's government to deal with the remaining political, security and logistical challenges so that the vote is peaceful, credible and inclusive.
The two leaders also discussed the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement, the deal that ended South Sudan's civil war and whose main provisions are still only partly carried out, as well as efforts to restart political dialogue.
A vote long delayed
The meeting came days after Ramaphosa led regional talks on whether South Sudan is ready to go to the polls. South Africa said it would support the electoral process.
South Sudan became independent in 2011 and has never held a national election. The polls were promised under the 2018 agreement and have been postponed more than once.
This report is based on reporting by Africanews and the Associated Press.
