By Lodu William Odiya
South Sudan is scheduled to begin inter-party dialogue today in order to build consensus on elections and resolve outstanding political issues, as the country prepares for December polls.
The talks come as South Sudan prepares for the December 2026 general elections and will bring together political leaders, civil society, faith-based groups, and members of the diplomatic community.
The dialogue is intended to build consensus among political parties and other stakeholders on key electoral issues and the way forward to peaceful and credible elections in December.
Rapporteur of the Inter-Party High-Level Steering Committee, Dr. Martin Elia Lomuro, said that President Salva Kiir had confirmed that the dialogue would proceed as planned.
The dialogue will be attended by party representatives, guests, the diplomatic corps, regional and international organisations, civil society, faith-based organisations, and development partners.
According to a tentative program obtained by the No. 1 Citizen Daily English newspaper, the dialogue would also be attended by former president Jakaya Kikwete and high-level representatives of the AU, the Horn of Africa, and the Red Sea.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation availed itself to renew all diplomatic missions, UN agencies, UNMISS, and regional and international organisations accredited to South Sudan, the assurance of its highest consideration.
“The official launch of South Sudan’s inter-party dialogue towards peaceful and democratic elections will be held in Juba on 24th September 2026, at 10:00 AM at the Revitalised Transitional Legislative Assembly Hall,” the statement partly read.
Meanwhile, South Sudan’s peace monitoring body has urged parties to the country’s 2018 peace agreement to use an inter-party dialogue this week to build consensus on elections and resolve outstanding political issues, as the country prepares for a December vote.
The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) said the dialogue, scheduled to begin on Thursday, should produce an inclusive and practical path towards elections and the conclusion of the transitional period.
“The current phase requires all parties to remain committed to the Agreement,” RJMEC said in a statement on Tuesday, referring to the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
The dialogue was originally scheduled for Sept. 17 but was later postponed to today, September 24, by the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs.