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The African Union (AU) urged South Sudan’s Transitional Government of National Unity to deploy the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF) in preparation for the long-delayed elections in December.

In a statement, the AU’s Peace and Security Department said the deployment was necessary to create a conducive environment for the elections to be organised and facilitate the establishment of civic and political spaces for inclusive engagement of the process.

The NUF was formed by integrating and retraining thousands of pro-government and rebel fighters into military, police, and security personnel. The first deployment of the NUF took place in November 2023.

The AU also urged the government to expedite the deployment of the forces for civilian protection. Several incidents of deadly inter-ethnic clashes have rocked the country, hampering its recovery from a devastating civil war.

South Sudan gained independence in 2011 and was initially supposed to hold its first-ever general election in 2015. However, the exercise has been postponed several times with the transitional government and opposition agreeing in 2022 to hold the vote in December 2024.

As the election draws closer, a failure to implement key elements of the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement has raised concern that South Sudan is not ready to hold free, fair, or secure elections.

The UN Mission in the country (UNMISS) has also previously warned that the country’s poor socioeconomic situation and delicate political environment means the vote will happen during heightened tensions.

The conflict in neighbouring Sudan, which forced hundreds of thousands of Sudanese and South Sudanese refugees into South Sudan, has also added to the list of concerns over the vote.

(Story compiled with assistance from wire reports)