Kiir meets visiting AU panel to discuss preparations for 2026 elections

JUBA – South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit met with the African Union’s Panel of the Wise (PoW) on Wednesday to review preparations for the country’s upcoming general elections, scheduled for December 2026.

The meeting, held at the State House in Juba, focused on creating an environment conducive to a peaceful and credible electoral process.

According to a statement from the presidency, the South Sudanese president assured the visiting AU panel of his government’s commitment to establishing the necessary conditions for free, fair, and credible elections.

The AU Panel’s visit to Juba underscores efforts to support South Sudan’s election preparations as the country works toward strengthening its democratic institutions.

Led by former Burundian President Domitien Ndayizeye, the delegation outlined its mission, noting that “the delegation’s visit is part of an ongoing mission to engage with political parties, civil society groups, and other stakeholders to ensure a smooth and peaceful electoral process.”

Members of the panel voiced confidence in South Sudan’s ability to proceed with the elections on schedule.

They urged “all stakeholders, including political parties and civil society organizations, to collaborate and work towards the success of the election processes as stipulated.”

The mandate of the AU Panel of the Wise is to foster Africa’s collective commitment to conflict mitigation and democratic governance, emphasizing the importance of wisdom and proactive engagement.

South Sudan’s recent institutional initiatives in conflict prevention and mediation have, according to the panel, played an instrumental role in advancing negotiated settlements in the country.

However, past actions by the governing parties under the revitalized peace agreement have led some observers to question whether South Sudan’s stated “commitment” to a democratic transition will be fully realized.

Kiir and his First Vice President Riek Machar, who leads the main opposition group, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), have postponed elections twice, citing delays in implementing key aspects of the peace deal.

In the most recent move, the government extended the transitional period in September by two years—from February 2025 to February 2026.

This change pushed back elections, which were originally scheduled for December 2024, to December 2026, as elections are mandated to occur two months before the end of the transitional period.