In the context of the South Sudan Governors Summit, President Salva Kiir Mayardit reaffirmed his commitment to holding a general election in December 2026, while acknowledging the challenges in implementing the revitalized peace agreement and the need to conclude the Tumaini peace negotiations.
Elections originally scheduled for this December were postponed due to the extension of the two-year transition period. The President stressed the importance of these talks with the holdout groups, stating that they were not intended to replace the existing peace agreement, but to accommodate the concerns of the parties involved to strengthen the inclusiveness of the existing agreement.
In response to the postponement, Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, expressed disappointment while stressing the need for a clear work plan for the next two years, given the lack of progress on key points of the peace agreement.
The Governors’ Forum comes amid a humanitarian emergency in South Sudan, with nine million people in need of humanitarian assistance and the arrival of 880,000 returnees and refugees fleeing violence in neighbouring Sudan, putting additional pressure on the country.
This summit meeting is an opportunity for the South Sudanese authorities to reconcile differences, strengthen the inclusiveness of the existing peace agreement and outline a clear road map for the next two years to ensure stability and democratic transition in the country.