A South Sudanese lawyer contends that the ground remains fertile for the country to hold its first-ever elections scheduled for December 2026, if genuine political will exists.
In an interview on Radio Tamazuj’s Road to Democracy Show, Advocate Dau Akoi Thon said the transitional government’s legitimacy is at stake and that holding elections is the only option. However, for smooth polls in 2026, he urges political leaders to dialogue and agree on sticking to electoral protocols.
“After many postponements, the parties to the government agreed that elections would be held in 2026, and as lawyers, we take this as the official line. Also, there is a working electoral body. All these are positive signs for elections,” he stated. “Although many South Sudanese are refugees or displaced from their homes, the number within the country that will be legally registered to vote will make the required 51 percent. If, for example, 100 people are registered. This number will still make quorum.”
The lawyer urged commitment to necessary electoral protocols.
“According to the electoral laws, several prerequisites are supposed to be met. There is a need for a census and voter registration. You cannot go for elections without knowing the number (population),” he stated. “A government that is not elected is undemocratic, so an election is necessary. Again, we need a permanent constitution to define term limits. While elections are necessary, a lot needs to be done for such elections to be free and fair.”
Asked if the 2018 peace agreement which stipulated the holding of elections was still holding amidst the current political and security unrest, Akoi said the parties have not declared the agreement dead.
“All parties to the agreement, including SPLM-IO and SSOA, did not declare that the agreement is dead. As lawyers, we make our verdict based on laws, not public opinion or assumptions,” he said. “Of course, there are key protocols required for elections to be held freely, as I stated earlier. So, this is where the need for dialogue among parties comes in.”
According to Advocate Akoi, the country is at a crossroads, and the political leadership needs to collaboratively chart the way forward.