By Deborah Akur Chol, South Sudan
President Salva Kiir has once again called on holdout groups to engage in the peace process as South Sudan anticipates long-awaited democratic elections scheduled for 2026.
During the inauguration of the first session of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly, President Kiir urged all parties involved in South Sudan’s 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement to recommit to its execution without delay. He emphasized the necessity for unity, reconciliation, and a collective endeavor to address the outstanding provisions of the agreement.
Key provisions remaining include the drafting of a permanent constitution, the unification of national armed forces, and the administration of a national census.
“I urge all parties to the Peace Agreement to recommit without preconditions to complete the remaining transitional tasks ahead of free, fair, and credible elections in 2026,” President Kiir stated in his address to lawmakers and stakeholders on Wednesday in Juba.
The president also conveyed a message of peace to armed groups outside the agreement, encouraging them to abandon hostilities and pursue dialogue for the sake of national stability.
“To the holdout groups, I extend my hand for peace once more. The suffering of our people must not be prolonged by a continued refusal to engage in dialogue,” Kiir declared.
“The doors of peace remain open. I implore all factions outside the peace process to join us on the path of reconciliation, unity, and nation-building,” he added.
The non signatory groups are those that did not sign the 2018 revitalized peace agreement aimed at resolving the conflict in South Sudan.
Since negotiations commenced in 2020, initiated by the Community of Sant Egidio in Rome and later transitioned to Nairobi as the Tumaini Initiative under Kenyan mediation, no political agreement has been reached.
While the holdout groups and government agreed to pursue political dialogue to seek reconciliation and stabilization by addressing the root causes of conflict, significant disagreements persist.
The holdout groups comprise the Real SPLM led by Pagan Amum, the National Salvation Front (NAS) led by Thomas Cirilo, the South Sudan United Front (SSUF/A) led by Paul Malong, and the National Democratic Movement-Patriotic Front (NDM-PF) led by Emmanuel Ajawin.
President Kiir reaffirmed his commitment to integrating peaceful opposition forces and strengthening institutions to ensure accountability and readiness for the elections.
“I have reconstituted the High Level Standing Committee for the implementation of the Peace Agreement to work closely with electoral and transitional justice institutions, ensuring their responsibilities are fulfilled in a timely manner,” the president remarked.
According to the National Election Act, an election calendar must be announced at least six months in advance, while the peace agreement requires that elections be conducted within two months following the end of the transitional period.
With crucial tasks still outstanding, concerns about the country’s preparedness remain. South Sudan is now aiming to hold elections in 2026 after multiple postponements.
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