South Sudan First Vice-President Riek Machar has accused President Salva Kiir of picking “friendly” members to the National Elections Commission (Nec).

In a letter addressed to President Kiir, Dr Machar said that there have been “anomalies” in the appointment process. He said that Mary Akech Bior’s dual appointment to the National Constitutional Review Commission (NCRC) and the Political Parties Council (PPC) is an oversight.

“SPLM (IO) nominee, Hon Gatluak Gabriel Deng, for the position of Chief Electoral Officer, was not appointed to the designated position but as an ordinary member of this commission. Another person who was described as a civil servant was instead appointed as Chief Electoral Officer,” Dr Machar charged.

Dr Machar insists that President Kiir rectifies the “anomalies” if the much-anticipated 2024 elections are to go on smoothly.

Nicolas Haysom, chief of the UN mission in South Sudan, has expressed concerns about the absence of crucial prerequisites for the impending elections. But President Kiir has pledged that elections will go on as planned.