South Sudan’s third deputy speaker of parliament, Kornelio Kon Ngu, has declared his intention to challenge President Salva Kiir in elections scheduled for December, becoming the first politician to publicly announce a presidential bid against the incumbent.
Kon, who also heads the National United Democratic Front (NUDF), made the announcement over the weekend at a summit of the National Alliance of Political Parties (NAOPP) in Juba.
NAOPP is a signatory to the 2018 peace agreement as part of the Other Political Parties (OPP) grouping. Kon was appointed third deputy speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly as part of the power-sharing arrangements established under the agreement.
The summit was held under the theme “Towards a Unified Political and Electoral Vision for the Alliance” as political parties prepare for elections.
Addressing delegates in Juba over the weekend, Kon criticised the concentration of public services, infrastructure and economic opportunities in the capital, Juba, saying political change is needed to address disparities between the capital and the rest of the country.
“In the former Sudan, all services were concentrated in Khartoum, and today South Sudan faces the exact same reality, where services are confined to Juba,” Kon said.
“To see modern infrastructure, access quality education, or find real opportunities, one must come to the capital.”
Kon urged South Sudanese to participate in the elections, saying voting is necessary to change the country’s political direction.
“Many people are afraid to speak out, but I believe it is critical to tell the untold stories. I have lived long enough in this world to no longer fear speaking the truth,” he said.
“If we continue on this path, we will only divide our country further. To prevent this, we must proceed to elections.”
Criticism of ruling party
Kon also criticised the SPLM, accusing it of operating more like an armed group than a conventional political party.
He questioned the involvement of serving military officers in the political movement, arguing that military and political roles should be separated.
The SPLM has dominated South Sudan’s politics since independence and is led by Kiir, who has served as president since 2011.
Kon’s declaration received backing from some political parties attending the NAOPP summit, although it was not immediately clear whether the alliance as a whole had formally endorsed his presidential bid.
South Sudan’s government has pledged to hold elections in December 2026 as part of a process intended to end the country’s prolonged transitional period.
The vote would be South Sudan’s first presidential election since independence. The government has repeatedly postponed elections, citing the need to implement key provisions of the 2018 peace agreement.
Opposition groups and other political actors have questioned whether the country has created the political, security and institutional conditions needed for a credible election.
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