JUBA — The National Democratic Movement (NDM) led by veteran politician, Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin, on Friday opposed plans to hold South Sudan’s general elections as scheduled, arguing that the country has not yet created the necessary conditions for a credible and peaceful vote.
The opposition group cited persistent political disagreements, insecurity, and delays in implementing critical provisions of the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement as major obstacles to holding credible elections.
Addressing journalists at a press conference on Friday, NDM Secretary-General Bol Joseph Agau called for an inclusive national dialogue involving political parties to resolve outstanding issues and build consensus on elections.
“Eight years later, neither sustainable peace nor a democratic transition has been achieved,” Agau said.
Agau said the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement has fallen short of achieving its two primary objectives: establishing lasting peace and facilitating a democratic transition.
He added that elections were intended to follow the completion of key reforms, including security sector transformation, the constitution-making process, judicial reforms, and the creation of a conducive and secure political environment.
“Elections were never intended to be a stand-alone event. They were conceived as the final milestone of a comprehensive peace process,” he said.
He noted that South Sudan’s transitional period has been extended twice — first in 2022 and again in 2024 — due to the failure of political leaders to reach consensus on the conditions required for conducting credible and transparent elections.
“If the conditions that justified the previous extensions still exist, why has there suddenly emerged an intense campaign advocating immediate elections?” Agau asked.
He said many South Sudanese fear that the renewed push for elections could result in another extension of the transitional government rather than delivering a genuine democratic transition.
He warned that the country’s security situation has continued to deteriorate, citing renewed clashes among parties to the peace agreement, rising communal violence, and expanding insecurity in several parts of the country.
Agau also questioned the preparedness of the National Elections Commission (NEC) to conduct the elections, citing financial constraints.
He said the commission has reportedly received less than five percent of its approved budget despite the limited time remaining before the planned polls.
“The institutions responsible for administering elections are inadequately prepared,” he said.
He further cited the country’s economic crisis, delayed payment of government salaries, deteriorating humanitarian conditions, and declining public confidence in state institutions as reasons why elections should not proceed under the current circumstances.
“Another extension of the transitional period under the present bloated and ineffective government is neither desirable nor sustainable.”
He warned that moving forward with elections without resolving the outstanding issues could undermine the credibility of the process and deepen existing political challenges.
“South Sudan deserves more than the repetition of failed transitional arrangements. It deserves a new national consensus capable of delivering the peace, justice, and democratic future that its people have expected for far too long.”
