South Sudan’s planned December general elections featured in President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s recent diplomatic engagements in Kenya and South Africa, as the country prepares for a political transition.
Kiir briefed an expanded caretaker government meeting on Saturday about the visits, highlighting discussions on bilateral cooperation and regional support for the electoral process.
According to a statement from the Office of the President, Kiir described his engagements as successful and said his meeting with Kenyan President William Ruto in Nairobi covered cooperation between the two countries and preparations for South Sudan’s elections.
Kenya had expressed its readiness to support South Sudan as it moves towards the planned polls, Kiir told the meeting, which brought together presidential advisers and envoys, caretaker ministers and senior security officials.
The meeting also reviewed the outcomes of the diplomatic visits and discussed coordination within the caretaker government ahead of the country’s political transition.
South Sudan is due to hold general elections in December, although the preparations come amid continuing political and security challenges.
The planned vote is expected to mark a significant step in the country’s transition, which has faced repeated delays since independence in 2011.
The presidential statement did not provide further details on the specific support Kenya intends to offer or outline new electoral measures agreed during the regional engagements.
Kiir’s briefing comes as the caretaker government continues its work ahead of the planned elections, with regional diplomatic engagement forming part of efforts to advance the electoral process.
