By William Madouk
The race for South Sudan’s presidency is taking shape, with the National Patriotic Movement (NPM) throwing its weight behind its chairman, Dr. Issa Muzamil Sebit Makelele, as its presidential candidate for the 2026 general election.
The announcement adds a new name to the emerging presidential contest, which already includes incumbent President Salva Kiir Mayardit and Kornelio Kon Ngu.
NPM Secretary General Gatkouth Biel announced the decision, saying the party’s Governing Council had endorsed Muzamil to contest for the country’s top political office.
“The National Patriotic Movement would like to announce to the general public that its governing council has endorsed its chairman, Dr. Issa Muzamil Sebit Makelele as a presidential candidate for the upcoming 2026 general election,” Biel said.
Muzamil, who currently leads the NPM, will now seek to take his party into the presidential contest as political parties begin positioning themselves ahead of the elections.
Biel said the party will soon announce candidates for other positions, including governors, members of the national and state parliaments and local government representatives.
“In the week to come, NPM will announce the candidate for the remaining position of the governor, national and state members of the parliament, and members of the local government,” Biel said.
He also called on NPM supporters, the public and the international community to support the electoral process.
“NPM calls on all its members, the general public, and the members of the international community to support the upcoming 2026 general election.”
Muzamil’s entry brings the number of publicly announced presidential contenders to at least three.
President Salva Kiir, who has led South Sudan since independence in 2011, remains the incumbent and has been associated with the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement.
Kornelio Kon Ngu has also declared his intention to contest the presidency, positioning himself as another challenger ahead of the planned elections.
Muzamil now joins that contest, giving voters another political figure to consider as parties prepare their campaigns and candidates for the 2026 polls.
The coming months are expected to see more political parties announce their presidential candidates, as well as nominees for parliament, state governments and local government positions.
For the NPM, the endorsement marks the beginning of its campaign to take its chairman from party leadership to the presidential ballot.
Speaking at a press conference in Juba, Muzamil outlined the NPM’s position on the end of the transitional government, the caretaker administration, the inter-party dialogue and his nomination as the party’s presidential candidate.
“First and foremost, the National Patriotic Movement welcomes positively the end of the transitional period and the dissolution of the revitalized transitional government of national unity that took place on the 22nd, September, 2026 to ensure a fair and credible journey towards elections,” he said.
Muzamil, however, questioned the composition of the newly appointed caretaker government, saying most of the officials appointed were from the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, or SPLM.
He said registered political parties were not consulted during the appointments.
“NPM observes that since a partial formation of the caretaker government was done on 22nd September, 2026, most of the officials appointed are from SPLM and no consultation was done with the registered political parties,” he said.
Muzamil called on President Kiir to ensure that caretaker officials remain neutral and fair in carrying out their duties.
“NPM urges His Excellency President Salva Kiir to supervise the caretaker officials and direct them to be neutral and fair in exercising their duties,” he said.
He said governors and other caretaker officials should not be loyal to one political party and should provide equal political space to all parties.
Muzamil also warned against appointing officials with records of corruption and urged authorities to prevent the use of public resources for political campaigns.
“Public resources must not be used for political campaigns by the ruling party and other individuals contrary to the law,” he said.