SPLM-IO slams electoral timetable as ‘premature’
JUBA — The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO) led by suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny has criticized the recently announced electoral timetable, describing it as premature and warning that key political and security conditions required for credible elections have not yet been met.
This came a few hours after the National Election Commission announced 22 December 2026 as the date for the country’s long-delayed general elections.
In a statement issued on Monday, Reath Muoch Tang, Acting Chairperson of the SPLM-IO National Committee on Foreign Relations, argued that holding elections under the current conditions risks undermining the credibility of the process and could deepen political tensions across the country.
“While the people of South Sudan aspire to exercise their democratic right to choose their leaders through free, fair, credible, and peaceful elections, SPLM-IO believes that the declaration of an election date under the current circumstances is premature and detached from the realities on the ground,” Muoch said.
He accused the government of violating the 2018 peace agreement through repeated violations, unilateral actions, and continued failure to implement key provisions of the deal.
“The Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS), which was intended to provide the roadmap toward democratic elections, has in practice been abrogated through repeated violations, unilateral actions, and the continued failure to implement its critical provisions.”
Muoch argued that the detention of opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar Teny and his colleagues, continued insecurity across the country, shrinking civic and political space, and ongoing military confrontations are clear indications that the foundations of the 2018 peace agreement have been severely eroded.
“SPLM-IO maintains that the only legitimate pathway to elections in South Sudan is through the full implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement. Elections were never intended to be an isolated event but rather the final outcome of a successful transitional process.”
He warned that conducting elections without meeting the agreed benchmarks risks turning the electoral process into a source of instability rather than a pathway to democratic transition.
“Millions of South Sudanese citizens remain displaced within and outside the country. Many of these citizens would be effectively excluded from participation if elections were conducted under the current conditions. Such an election cannot credibly claim to represent the will of the people of South Sudan.”
He urged the government to meet prerequisites for elections, including completion of the permanent constitution-making process, the conduct of a credible national population census, and the safe and voluntary repatriation of South Sudanese refugees and internally displaced persons.
He called for comprehensive voter registration, security sector reforms, and the creation of an environment that guarantees political freedoms and equal participation for all political actors.
“The announcement of an election date at this sensitive moment sends the wrong message, and this signifies a dismissal of the efforts being undertaken by the African Union and other regional and international partners. Rather than supporting ongoing peace initiatives, such unilateral actions undermine confidence-building measures and complicate the work of those seeking a peaceful resolution to the country’s political crisis.”
He said the movement urged the government in Juba, the African Union, IGAD, the United Nations, the Troika, and all peace agreement guarantors to refocus their efforts on restoring the 2018 peace agreement and ensuring that all electoral benchmarks are met before any election date is confirmed.
“The people of South Sudan deserve genuine democratic elections founded on peace, security, inclusivity, constitutional order, and national consensus. Anything less risks jeopardizing both the fragile peace and the future stability of our nation.”