JUBA — South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit, who also serves as Chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), on Tuesday directed the party’s state chairpersons to intensify grassroots mobilization and recruit new members as the ruling party steps up preparations for South Sudan’s planned general elections in December 2026.
Kiir issued the directive on Tuesday at the conclusion of a week-long SPLM retreat attended by governors and chief administrators, who also serve as the party’s chairpersons, at the party’s headquarters in Juba.
Kiir, chairman of the SPLM, urged the governors and chief administrators to strengthen the party’s presence across the country through sustained engagement with communities.
“For the chairpersons who are now returning to their places of duty, you must carry the message of election readiness. I urge you to mobilize our people and drive the SPLM membership registration,” Kiir said.
Kiir said the meeting discussed strategies for strengthening membership recruitment and improving coordination among party organs.
“The purpose of this meeting was to generate ideas that can shape the governance structure of our movement. I am confident that you have disguised yourselves to achieve this objective,” he said.
“For the resolutions of this meeting, we now have a solid foundation for the preparation of our national convention and for the drafting of the manifesto.”
Dr. James Wani Igga, the SPLM First Deputy Chairman, said the summit had produced practical recommendations that would help transform the party’s vision into tangible results for the people.
“Today it is an honour to address your comrades on the important topic of techniques of transforming a party’s vision and mission into reality,” Wani said.
Wani, who also serves as Vice President for the Economic Cluster, said the resolutions adopted during the meeting would be translated into practical actions aimed at improving the lives of the people of South Sudan.
“Every successful political party is built upon a clear mission and a purposeful mission. However, these statements only become meaningful when they are translated into practical actions that positively impact the lives of our people,” he said.
Dr. Paul Akol Kordit, the SPLM Secretary-General, said the meeting unanimously resolved to nominate Salva Kiir Mayardit as the party’s candidate at the upcoming Third SPLM National Convention and subsequently endorse him as the SPLM’s sole presidential candidate for the forthcoming general elections.
“The new commitment to fully implement the resolutions of the SPLM Leadership Summit is for the grassroots in pursuit of party service delivery to the people of South Sudan,” Akol said.
He called for total peaceful dialogue and reconciliation in the country, particularly among armed groups.
“Recognizing the democratic principle for elections as the right of the citizens of the Republic of South Sudan to elect their leaders, [we] condemned in all forms the communal violence and conflicts and committed to peaceful conflict resolution in the states and administrative areas,” he said.
