By Jabe Janet Emmanuel
The National Patriotic Movement (NPM) chairperson, Dr. Issa Muzamil Sebit Makelele, has urged political parties and citizens to embrace elections, arguing that the country needs to begin building a democratic foundation through the electoral process.
Makelele, who attended the Inter-Party Dialogue in Juba on Thursday, told King Media in an interview that South Sudan faces a choice between holding elections and continuing to delay the process.
He stated that prolonged postponements would not necessarily resolve the political and institutional challenges surrounding the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.
“We have two options: elections and no elections. From independence, there has never been an election. We have moved the journey without elections. From 2011 until now, there has been no election,” Dr. Muzamil said.
He added, “There are people who say why can’t the election be push for a year or two. I say that if the parties to the revitalized agreements have, from the time the agreement was signed in 2018, and now we are in 2026, Eight years the agreement has been implemented, what do you expect to be implemented in another year? Nothing. So the best way is to go to the square. Let the citizens choose the person they want ”
Makelele appealed to candidates and their supporters to reject violence during the electoral process.
He emphasized the role of young people in shaping the country’s political future, saying their participation in elections could help drive gradual political change.
The NPM chair noted that elections would allow citizens to choose leaders at different levels of government, including the president, governors, members of parliament, mayors and commissioners.
“We have different people we need to take care of. And the opportunity is through elections. So, there will be elections of mayors, commissioners, MPs. So, it is the opportunity to start a gradual change. And for me, I want to urge people: let us support elections. A bad election is better than no election,” he said, urging citizens to use the electoral process to influence leadership and governance in their communities.
Makelele’s appeal came as political parties and other stakeholders gathered in Juba for a two-week Inter-Party Dialogue focused on election-related issues ahead of South Sudan’s scheduled December 22, 2026, polls.
The dialogue comes at a critical point in South Sudan’s political transition
On September 22, President Salva Kiir dissolved the transitional government after signing amendments to the electoral law that removed previous requirements linking elections to the completion of a permanent constitution and a national census.
The changes were presented as part of efforts to clear obstacles to the long-delayed elections.
The head of state yesterday, at the launch of the inter-party dialogue on elections, called on political parties and stakeholders to keep the discussions focused on election-related matters rather than using the forum to renegotiate the country’s political direction.
“This inter-party dialogue is not a place for negotiations and disagreements. It is not a place to shift the direction of the path that we have taken. It is not a place to hold us back,” Kiir said.
He said the dialogue should instead help political actors agree on a path towards peaceful and credible elections.
Kiir outlines four areas guiding election preparations
Kiir also identified four areas guiding the country’s preparations for the elections: the legal framework, administration and logistics, security, and dialogue on election-related matters. He said the legal roadmap had been achieved, while administrative, logistical, and security preparations were progressing.
Muzamil further stressed that the focus should ultimately remain on giving citizens an opportunity to participate in choosing their leaders through elections, while ensuring that political competition does not lead to violence.