By Lodu William Odiya
High-level delegation from the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition has met with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Government, the ruling party, to strengthen South Sudan’s political landscape.
According to the SPLM-IO press unit, their visit was part of an initiative to open channels of communication and dialogue with various political forces in the country.
“The objective is to align perspectives and address challenges and concerns related to the upcoming elections,” the statement partly read.
During the meeting, both sides discussed key issues, the arrangements for the elections and the necessity of guaranteeing political freedoms and civic space for all parties.
The goal is to ensure a level playing field that fosters free and fair elections, prioritising the national interest over narrow partisan agendas.
Furthermore, a “Pact and Code of Honour” was proposed for the political parties to be signed before the elections. This document outlines political commitments, ensures the integrity of the electoral process, and establishes an agreement to accept the election results.
For its part, Dr Akol Paul, the Secretary-General for the ruling party SPLM, welcomed the initiative, expressing its agreement with the proposals presented.
“It pledged full cooperation in meeting the requirements necessary to create a fair political environment, emphasising the importance of ongoing collaboration and coordination among all political forces to consolidate the foundations of a comprehensive and lasting peace throughout the country through elections,” the statement continued.
South Sudan is moving ahead with preparations for its first national elections since independence as renewed fighting and restrictions on political freedoms raise concerns over the safety and rights of voters.
The country is scheduled to vote on December 22, 2026. The National Elections Commission has recently launched civic and voter education programmes in several states, while President Salva Kiir has called for election preparations to be accelerated.
However, key parts of the electoral process remain unfinished. Voter registration, election security arrangements and other key preparations are still pending, raising questions over whether the country can complete the process before December.
The election is also being organised under a peace agreement that remains incomplete. The 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement was intended to end the civil war and guide the country towards elections, but major tasks, including the unification of government and opposition forces, remain unresolved.