SSOA faction announces plan to start election activities

A faction of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) led by former Vice President Hussein Abdelbagi Akol will begin election-related activities next week as it prepares to contest the December 2026 elections, a senior alliance official said on Monday.

The alliance did not specify which election-related activities it would begin next week.

The SSOA is divided into two main factions, with several splinter groups aligned with either side. One faction is led by Abdelbagi and is seen as closer to the ruling SPLM, while the other is led by former Vice President Josephine Lagu.

Changkuoth Bichiok Reth, leader of the Federal Democratic Party and secretary-general of the SSOA faction, said the alliance is committed to participating in the elections.

“Within SSOA, we’re ready for the elections. That’s why we’re committed to this dialogue,” Bichiok said.

He said the alliance supported the dissolution of the transitional government on 22 September because it could help pave the way for elections, which he described as a possible way to address the country’s political crisis.

Asked whether the SSOA faction supported Abdelbagi’s previous remarks endorsing President Salva Kiir for the Dec. 22 election, Bichiok said the comments did not represent the alliance’s official position.

“What he said was not our official position of SSOA,” Bichiok said. He added that the alliance would discuss whether to endorse Kiir and announce its position later.

Mahjoub Biel Turuk, leader of the National Democratic Movement (NDM) faction, said South Sudan needs to move from transitional government to elected government.

“As SSOA, we’re going for elections even if the elections are to only take place in Juba,” Turuk said.

He acknowledged challenges facing the electoral process but said South Sudan needs to develop a culture of holding elections.

“We cannot compare the elections in Europe or America to South Sudan. We need to learn the culture of elections,” he said.

Turuk said the failure to hold elections had contributed to some people taking up arms.

Clement Juma, deputy chairperson of the alliance, said the SSOA is in the process of registering with the Political Parties Council as a coalition. He said the registration would be followed by the nomination of candidates.