JUBA — The Office of the President of South Sudan on Sunday said elections should not be feared by anyone who genuinely believes in democracy, as South Sudan prepares for its planned 2026 general elections.
The statement comes amid continued debate over the country’s readiness to hold elections, with critics raising concerns over security, political tensions, and the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement.
The President’s Office said genuine supporters of democracy should embrace elections as a legitimate means of allowing citizens to choose their leaders and shape the country’s political future.
“Elections should not be feared by anyone who genuinely believes in democracy. Those who believe the government has failed should present their case to the people,” read part of the statement seen by Sudans Post.
Kiir’s office urged political actors and other stakeholders to approach the electoral process with confidence rather than fear, stressing the importance of peaceful political participation.
“Those seeking change should organize and persuade voters, and those who support the current leadership should be equally free to make their case. The people—not political elites, government positions, or political rhetoric—must decide.”
Respect for the Liberation Struggle
The Office rejects any attempt to rewrite the liberation struggle as the achievement of a selected few while minimizing those who fought, served, and continued to carry the responsibilities of the movement and the Republic.
“When reference is made to those who stood with the late Dr. John Garang de Mabior, it must be remembered that the struggle was collective,” it said.
“President Salva Kiir Mayardit was a senior member of that struggle and a longstanding comrade of Dr. Garang. His role in the liberation movement and the subsequent leadership of the Republic cannot be erased from that history.”
Kiir’s office disputed claims that no one was leading the country following the death of Dr. John Garang de Mabior, saying such assertions diminish the contributions of other liberation-era leaders who remained committed to the movement and continued to shoulder responsibility for the struggle that ultimately led to South Sudan’s independence.
It said the liberation struggle belongs to the people of South Sudan and should serve as a unifying force rather than become a tool for political division.
Honoring Liberators
The office said the leadership honors veterans and liberators while valuing the country’s greatest national resource—its people.
“Where former liberators face hardship, the response should be a serious national effort to recognize their contribution, protect their dignity, and support those who sacrificed for the country. Their struggles should not be turned into political weapons.”
The office said Africa’s youngest nation has endured decades of conflict, displacement, political uncertainty, and immense sacrifice, stressing that the country should not remain trapped in cycles of postponement and uncertainty.
