Kenyan President William Ruto urged South Sudan’s political leaders to pursue dialogue and consensus on Monday as Nairobi pledged to support preparations for elections scheduled for December.
Ruto made the remarks after meeting South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit at State House in Nairobi, as Juba seeks regional support for general elections.
“Kenya stands ready to support South Sudan in this endeavour while encouraging dialogue and consensus among all parties,” Ruto said in a post on X.
South Sudan is scheduled to hold general elections on Dec. 22, 2026, in a vote intended to end the country’s prolonged transitional period. The elections have been repeatedly delayed since independence in 2011.
Kiir dissolved the transitional unity government and the national legislature on Sept. 22 and appointed a caretaker administration, following amendments to the electoral law that removed some legal conditions previously linked to holding the elections.
The move has raised the stakes for political dialogue as South Sudan prepares for the polls under a power-sharing arrangement established by a 2018 peace deal that ended five years of civil war.
The African Union and other regional and international actors have called for a peaceful transition and credible, inclusive and transparent elections.
Ruto said Kenya would support South Sudan’s electoral preparations and also expressed satisfaction with relations between the two countries.
“We expressed satisfaction with the strong relations between our two nations and resolved to continue opening more opportunities for trade and investment for our citizens,” he said.
The two leaders also discussed regional economic cooperation. Ruto thanked Kiir for South Sudan’s participation in last week’s launch of the Dangote East Africa Refinery in Lamu.
For its part, Kiir’s office said he told Ruto that South Sudan had completed the legal steps required for the elections, while logistical and financial preparations are under way. An inter-party dialogue is also continuing, with Kiir urging political parties to build consensus on election-related issues.
Ruto welcomed the dialogue and encouraged South Sudanese parties to maintain negotiations, according to Kiir’s office. The two leaders also said credible elections are important for peace and security in the region.
The leaders also discussed economic cooperation, including reducing charges on containers bound for South Sudan and operationalising a dry port allocated to the country in Naivasha, according to Kiir’s office.
Kiir arrived in Nairobi on Sunday for his first known foreign trip since dissolving the transitional government.
His visit followed reports circulating on social media about his health. Kiir’s office has not publicly commented on the reports.
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