As the country prepares for the general election in December 2026, political parties need to begin mobilizing across the nation. National Elections Commission NEC, should start the voter registration and voter education.
The SPLM party, the SPLM-IO, and other parties should start the campaign process in all the ten States and the three administrative areas, to ensure that citizens are well-informed.
Parties need to show commitment and refrain from silence to address the concerns of citizens, as this is part of the peace agreement and will mark the end of the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS). However, implementation remains pending, particularly regarding issues like security arrangements and unification of command, which were promised in 2023 but have yet to be resolved. Ongoing clashes, such as those between the SSPDF and SPLA-IO in Western Bahr el Ghazal, have resulted in the loss of lives and property, becoming a troubling norm.
What message do today’s leaders send to the country? What are their intentions? Over the past five years, the National Transitional Committee (NTC) has remained silent, raising questions about who is providing food and non-food items to training centers, why polling centers are not established, and why the census has not been conducted.
It appears that corrupt politicians are reluctant to discuss elections, which has led to continued confrontations amongst themselves instead of mobilizing their parties for the upcoming elections in December 2026. The situation in the country is dire; many are struggling with hunger, and refugees remain in the diaspora due to overwhelming corruption and security challenges.
The international community, including IGAD, RJEMIC, and CTSAMVM, has been monitoring the peace process but seems passive, as they benefit from their roles without enforcing the established discussions around issues like unified command. Their inaction suggests a shared interest in perpetuating the status quo instead of advocating for the peace process.
As a citizen, prepare to cast your vote wisely if elections are held in December 2026. Know whom to support and do not vote blindly; you are aware of your leaders, their track records, and how they govern.
I urge all political parties to actively engage in the upcoming elections in 2026 to help end the suffering of South Sudanese both within the country and in the diaspora. An election must take place if it can pave the way for lasting peace, as the current situation is unbearable, and many are suffering in silence.
God protect South Sudan
Be the spectator