Cleric foretells internationally backed ‘revolution’ and ‘coup’ in South Sudan

LAGOS — A prominent Nigerian cleric has warned that South Sudan is on “danger alert,” predicting an internationally backed coup and a military-led revolution as the country enters 2026, the year in which President Salva Kiir has promised elections.

Primate Elijah Ayodele, leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, released the warnings as part of a 146-page prophetic document, marking his latest attempt to influence the political discourse in Juba.

“Revolution is coming, and the white army will do things to shake the nation,” Ayodele stated in the document, which warns President Salva Kiir that he “must be careful not to be pushed out of office through a coup.”

Ayodele, who has issued similar warnings to the South Sudanese presidency in previous years, cautioned Kiir against following “wrong advice” that could lead the country back into open warfare.

The focus on South Sudan by Nigerian preachers has intensified since the high-profile visit of the late T.B. Joshua to Juba in 2019. That visit sparked widespread rumors and public debate over reports of significant financial donations given to the cleric by the presidency.

Following Joshua’s death in 2021, a growing number of Nigerian religious leaders have sought to position themselves as spiritual advisors to Kiir, often releasing dire political forecasts to seek attention.

Ayodele’s prophecy suggests that the international community will begin threatening African nations that attempt to “evade elections,” placing Juba directly in the crosshairs of global diplomatic pressure.

The cleric claimed that this external friction, combined with internal “White Army” movements, would create a volatile environment intended to “shake the nation” and force a change in leadership through non-constitutional means.

Critics in South Sudan have frequently questioned the motivations of foreign clerics, suggesting their predictions are often a tactic to gain access to the presidency and its resources.

Despite these skepticisms, such prophecies continue to gain significant traction in local media, reflecting the deep-seated influence of religious figures on the political landscape of the world’s youngest nation.

Ayodele concluded his forecast by urging the South Sudanese government to restrategize its security and diplomatic policies. He warned that the failure to navigate these internationally backed” pressures would result in the president being pushed out of office. These claims were released alongside similar warnings for Kenya and Zambia, as part of a broader regional forecast of political upheaval.