President Salva Kiir Mayardit is expected to establish a committee to facilitate dialogue among signatories to South Sudan’s 2018 peace agreement and other stakeholders on election-related issues, officials and documents show.
It is unclear when the committee will be formally constituted, but invitations from the president’s office have already been sent to key stakeholders to participate in the talks, according to documents seen by Radio Tamazuj.
The invitations reference a December 2025 meeting at which the presidency agreed that parties to the 2018 revitalized peace agreement would convene to address election-related grievances and concerns.
In December, the presidency and Cabinet approved amendments to key provisions of the peace agreement, including separating the December 2026 elections from the permanent constitution-making process, a national census and other institutional reforms.
The changes also removed language stating that the 2018 peace agreement takes precedence over the transitional constitution.
General elections are scheduled for Dec. 22, 2026, but preparations have lagged amid persistent security and political challenges.
Sources told Radio Tamazuj that the president’s office did not invite the SPLM-IO faction led by suspended First Vice President Riek Machar, who remains under house arrest and faces trial. Instead, invitations were sent to the SPLM-IO faction aligned with Peace Minister Stephen Par Kuol. Other signatories to the peace agreement were invited, the sources said.
Edmund Yakani, executive director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), confirmed his organization had received an invitation to join the dialogue committee.
According to a letter seen by Radio Tamazuj, Yakani was asked to confirm his participation in writing by Thursday, Jan. 22, to allow Kiir to formally establish the dialogue body. The letter said the talks would address “election-related matters, including grievances from the parties.”
Yakani said any dialogue must adhere to both the spirit and letter of the revitalized peace agreement, emphasizing inclusivity and the participation of rightful signatories.
“The committee to be formed by the president should facilitate consensus among parties and stakeholders for the conduct of elections,” Yakani said.
He warned that holding elections amid ongoing insecurity in parts of the country would undermine their credibility. Continued fighting between government forces and SPLM-IO fighters poses serious risks to the electoral process, he added.
“Marginalizing the SPLM-IO faction led by Dr. Riek Machar is unhealthy and increases the risk of renewed armed conflict,” Yakani said.
South Sudan’s 2018 peace agreement ended a five-year civil war and created a transitional unity government tasked with preparing the country for elections. Progress has been uneven, with key provisions — including the unification of armed forces and drafting of a permanent constitution — yet to be completed.
Political disputes between Kiir and Machar have repeatedly stalled implementation of the deal. Machar was placed under house arrest in March 2025 over alleged links to violence in Upper Nile State’s Nasir County, where armed youth known as the White Army overran a military base.