
Report: Al-Naeim Mubarak Kuol
A three-day forum for political parties was held in Aweil, South Sudan, aimed at expanding the civil and political space. The forum, which is part of a broader initiative by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), is supported by the African Union and the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission for the peace agreement.
Such a forum was also held in several other states, with the goal of enabling civil and political dialogue and debate. The forum, held in Northern Bahr El Ghazal, aimed to provide a level playing field for all political stakeholders in electioneering, promoting the rule of law, and protecting fundamental rights in the state. It also aimed to make the registration of political parties affordable, encourage increased collaboration among political parties, security sector actors, and civil society organizations, and promote continuous consultations in decision-making processes.

The resolutions agreed upon at the forum include providing a level playing field for electioneering, making political party registration affordable, encouraging social and political cohesion, and political dialogue as a strategy for conflict mitigation and reducing community violence. Additionally, the forum emphasized the need for continuous consultations in decision-making processes, securing a strong and independent judiciary, establishing an electoral dispute resolution mechanism, and advocating for the reunification of the country’s armed forces and further reforms in South Sudan’s security sector.