Opposition group backs U.S. envoy’s remarks on South Sudan crisis, calls for detainees’ release

The opposition National Democratic Movement–Patriotic Front (NDM-PF) on Wednesday backed recent remarks by U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz at the United Nations that South Sudan is not ready to hold free, fair and credible elections, citing the country’s fragile political and security environment.

The NDM-PF, led by Emmanuel Ajawin, is part of the holdout opposition alliance that did not sign the 2018 peace agreement. The movement is aligned with the South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA), headed by Gen. Thomas Cirillo.

In a statement dated May 6, the group said Waltz’s assessment “accurately reflects the prevailing realities on the ground” in South Sudan, where political tensions and insecurity persist despite the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).

The opposition group said the current political and security environment was insufficient to guarantee the “integrity, transparency and inclusiveness” required for credible elections, warning that holding polls under existing conditions could exacerbate instability and deepen political divisions.

The NDM-PF said South Sudan’s immediate priority should not be elections but rather “a genuine, comprehensive and inclusive national dialogue” aimed at addressing the root causes of conflict and promoting sustainable peace, national cohesion and institutional stability.

The group also urged the United States to renew and strengthen the arms embargo on South Sudan, citing ongoing military confrontations among parties signatory to the peace agreement.

“This measure remains critical to de-escalating violence and creating conducive conditions for peaceful political engagement,” the statement said.

The movement further reiterated its call for the “immediate and unconditional release” of political detainees, saying their release was essential to restoring confidence, enabling inclusive dialogue and advancing a peaceful political transition.

“Their release constitutes a fundamental prerequisite for restoring confidence, enabling inclusive dialogue, and advancing a credible and peaceful political transition,” the statement added.

The NDM-PF said it remained committed to “a peaceful, democratic, and stable South Sudan, grounded in justice, inclusivity, and respect for the will of its people.”