South Sudan’s ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) said on Thursday it will convene expanded consultative meetings in Juba later this month to assess its readiness for general elections, as preparations accelerate ahead of the planned vote.
The decision followed a senior leadership meeting chaired by party chairman and President Salva Kiir Mayardit, and attended by senior officials including deputy chairpersons Mary Apai and Simon Kun Pouch.
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.
SPLM Secretary General Dr. Akol Paul Kordit said the expanded meetings will bring together state chairpersons, governors, chief administrators of the three administrative areas, and senior party officials.
He said the leadership had agreed to hold a party meeting in Juba before the end of the month to review election preparations and internal reorganisation.
The consultations, he added, are intended to strengthen coordination and assess organisational readiness across party structures.
“The SPLM reaffirmed its commitment to the democratic process and its readiness to participate in the forthcoming elections,” he said, adding that local structures had been directed to intensify mobilisation.
According to the party, the meetings will also review performance across states and administrative areas and harmonise election strategies at national and subnational levels.
The consultations are expected to inform the party’s 10th national convention, which officials say will be shaped by feedback from nationwide engagements.
SPLM officials also said the party is engaging in exchanges with ruling parties in neighbouring countries, including planned memoranda of understanding and training programmes on governance and electoral management.
Party leaders said internal structures remain aligned and preparations are ongoing, expressing confidence in readiness for elections.
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