A South Sudanese presidential aspirant said on Tuesday that security officials prevented him from travelling from Juba to Wau, Western Bahr el Ghazal State, without providing a written explanation, raising questions about freedom of movement as the country prepares for elections in December.
Kornelio Kon Ngon, a former third deputy speaker of parliament and candidate of a faction of the National Alliance of Political Parties (NAPP), told Radio Tamazuj that security officials at Juba International Airport stopped him from boarding his flight and directed him to seek permission from President Salva Kiir’s office.
“How can I get permission from the office of the president when I am not working in the office of the president? You take permission from your workplace but I don’t work there,” he said.
“I don’t know what is happening whether I am under house arrest or not, I don’t know,” he added.
Kon said no formal order restricting his movement had been communicated to him. He stressed that he was travelling within the country, not abroad, and called on the president’s office to explain why he had been prevented from making the journey.
He said he had paid 3.2 million South Sudanese pounds for the ticket and had already received a boarding pass when security officials stopped him.
“The security officials just told me that they work based on orders, they keep telling me to come with a permission from the office of the president and I don’t know where that permission can be obtained,” he said.
Kon said he had planned to travel to Wau to attend memorial prayers following the death of his sister. He added that his family and home are in the town of Wau.
He described the incident as evidence of restrictions on political and personal freedoms, arguing that such measures are inconsistent with preparations for the December 22, 2026, elections.
Kon said the incident confirmed that there was no democracy in the country and that South Sudan was under military rule.
Gabriel Alazir, spokesperson for Kon’s NAPP faction, separately told journalists in Juba on Tuesday that Kon had been stopped despite completing the required procedures before boarding.
Alazir said a security officer had told Kon that the restriction had been ordered by the country’s highest authority.
“We were surprised to see that a security officer came and said that the flight was prohibited for Kornelio Kon,” Alazir said. “He said that this was a decision of the highest authority of the state.”
Alazir said Kon had intended to attend prayers following his sister’s death and meet alliance members and supporters as part of preparations for the December elections.
Alazir called on the authorities to clarify the circumstances of the incident, saying political parties needed freedom of movement to organise and prepare for the elections. He added that his faction was unaware of any formal directive restricting politicians’ domestic travel.
He also questioned what he described as unequal treatment of political parties, citing a recent visit to Torit by Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) Secretary-General Akol Paul Kordit.
“The SPLM secretary general was recently in Torit and nobody from the authorities blocked him,” Alazir said. “We know that it is normal for the parties to move to prepare for elections in December.”
David Kumuri, a spokesperson for the National Security Service (NSS), could not immediately be reached for comment.
Kiir restricts foreign travel
The incident comes as Kiir has reiterated a directive requiring government officials and members of the organised forces to obtain his approval before travelling abroad.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the President’s Office said constitutional office holders, military personnel and police officers must obtain Kiir’s permission before leaving the country.
Kiir reiterated the directive during a meeting with government officials following visits to Kenya and South Africa. The measure would remain in force for three months, the statement said, as South Sudan prepares for elections.
“President Kiir further reiterated his directive requiring holders of constitutional offices to obtain permission before travelling, emphasising accountability and continuity in the conduct of government business,” the statement said.
A document circulated earlier this month reportedly outlined a three-month restriction on foreign travel by senior government officials and members of the organised forces without presidential approval. It was reportedly issued by the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence.
The document said members of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces and other organised forces must obtain approval from Kiir, in his capacity as commander-in-chief, before travelling abroad.
The restrictions cover military personnel from the rank of second lieutenant to general, as well as senior government officials, including directors-general, undersecretaries, ministers and government advisers.
South Sudan gained independence in 2011 and is scheduled to hold its first general election on December 22, 2026. The vote has been repeatedly delayed since independence, while political and security challenges have complicated preparations.
On September 22, Kiir dissolved the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity and appointed caretaker officials to oversee government affairs and prepare for elections.
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