JUBA, July 11 (Xinhua) -- The African Union Mission in South Sudan (AUMISS), Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), an East African bloc, and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on Thursday called for a consensus-driven electoral process in South Sudan.
The three organizations urged parties to the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) to reach a consensus on the way forward and provide clarity on the electoral roadmap.
"While the holding of elections is the sovereign prerogative of South Sudan, AUMISS, IGAD, and UNMISS stress the importance of electoral decisions being taken by consensus and in accordance with agreed processes, procedures, and timelines," the missions said in a joint statement in Juba, South Sudan's capital.
In addition, the organizations appealed to the parties to work collectively for the sake of sustained peace and stability.
"The partners reiterate their full support for all efforts to ultimately deliver peaceful, free, fair, and credible elections that reflect the will of the electorate," the missions said.
South Sudan descended into civil strife in December 2013 following a political dispute between President Salva Kiir and his deputy Riek Machar.
The conflict claimed thousands of lives and displaced more than 2 million people, both internally and externally.
The world's youngest nation is expected to conduct elections at the end of the transitional period in December. ■
