Speaking during a rally in Kuajok of South Sudan’s Warrap State on Saturday, Abdelbagi, who was dismissed from the South Sudan Patriotic Movement under the South Sudan Opposition Alliance in February 2025, reaffirmed his support for President Kiir’s leadership and urged citizens to rally behind him ahead of the country’s first post-independence elections.
“The Vice President also reaffirmed support for President Kiir as their only presidential candidate in the forthcoming December 2026 elections,” a statement issued by his office on Saturday said.
The rally, attended by thousands of residents, was part of President Kiir’s ongoing visit to Warrap State, where he is engaging communities on issues of peace, development, and national unity.
Addressing the gathering, Abdelbagi praised residents of Warrap for turning out in large numbers to welcome the president despite heavy rainfall, describing the reception as a demonstration of the people’s affection, respect, and commitment to peace.
He called on communities across the state to reject communal violence and work towards strengthening peaceful coexistence as the country prepares for the 2026 polls.
“The Vice President called on the citizens of Warrap State to reject communal conflicts and continue promoting peaceful coexistence as South Sudan prepares for the General Elections scheduled for December 2026,” the statement noted.
Abdelbagi also used the occasion to highlight his priorities as Chairperson of the Service Cluster, particularly in the education sector. He reiterated the government’s commitment to expanding access to higher education by supporting the establishment of public universities in Kuajok and Aweil.
According to the vice president, many young South Sudanese face significant obstacles in accessing university education due to the lack of nearby institutions of higher learning.
The peace rally formed part of President Kiir’s broader outreach tour of the Greater Bahr el Ghazal region, where he has been meeting local leaders and residents to discuss peacebuilding, service delivery, and national development.
South Sudan is expected to hold general elections in December 2026, a process widely viewed as a major test of the country’s transition towards democratic governance.
