South Sudan will launch an inter-party dialogue process next month aimed at bringing together political parties and holdout groups ahead of the country’s planned December 2026 elections, participants at a high-level forum in Juba said on Saturday.
The announcement was made during the second High-Level Pan-African Engagement Forum, convened by the Office of the Senior Presidential Envoy on Special Programs in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The forum, held in honour of AU envoy and former Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, brought together African ambassadors and heads of mission accredited to South Sudan, alongside representatives of the African Union (AU), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (R-JMEC) and other stakeholders.
Held under the theme “The Road to December 2026 Elections,” the forum focused on South Sudan’s democratic transition and preparations for the country’s first post-independence general elections, scheduled for December 2026.
In a statement, the Office of the Senior Presidential Envoy on Special Programs, headed by Adut Salva Kiir, said the planned dialogue would seek to foster national consensus and strengthen political inclusivity ahead of the vote.
Adut Kiir, the daughter of President Salva Kiir, was appointed Senior Presidential Envoy for Special Programmes in August 2025.
The dialogue initiative is expected to bring together all political parties, including groups that are not part of the 2018 peace deal, as part of efforts to broaden participation in the country’s transition.
Participants at the forum said the elections remain the most viable pathway for South Sudan to complete its transition from the current transitional government to a democratically elected administration.
Discussions focused on the steps needed to ensure a credible, peaceful and inclusive electoral process, while highlighting challenges that could affect the electoral roadmap, including funding constraints, the need to maintain peace and stability, and delays in implementing key provisions of the 2018 revitalized peace agreement.
Security arrangements also featured prominently in the discussions, with delegates stressing the importance of completing the integration and deployment of the Necessary Unified Forces to provide a secure environment for free and fair elections.
The forum reaffirmed the commitment of national, regional and international stakeholders to support South Sudan’s efforts toward lasting peace, democratic governance and a successful electoral transition in December 2026.
It concluded with renewed calls for collective action, sustained political dialogue and stronger cooperation among all stakeholders to ensure the electoral process contributes to long-term stability and national unity.
South Sudan is preparing for its first general elections since independence, but progress on the 2018 peace agreement has been slow, weighed down by political tensions and delayed reforms.
Kiir’s camp has insisted the vote should go ahead in December, while opposition groups, including the SPLM-IO led by detained First Vice President Riek Machar, have raised concerns over the timeline, citing outstanding provisions in the peace deal.
Western envoys in Juba said they support the holding of elections, but stressed they must be credible, inclusive and peaceful.
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