By Matik Kueth
The National Democratic Movement (NDM) has cautioned that holding elections without completing key reforms under the peace agreement could deepen South Sudan’s political crisis, calling instead for an inclusive national dialogue to establish a new political consensus.
The opposition party said the country is not yet ready for free, fair, credible, and peaceful elections due to ongoing insecurity, lack of political consensus, weak institutions, and limited preparations by electoral bodies.
Addressing a press conference in Juba on Friday, Bol Joseph Agau, NDM’s Secretary-General, said elections were designed as the final stage of a broader peace process, not as an isolated political exercise.
“Elections were never intended to be a stand-alone event. They were conceived as the final milestone of a comprehensive peace process. Security sector reform, constitution-making, institutional reforms, judicial reform, and the establishment of an enabling political environment were all prerequisites that had to be fulfilled before the country could proceed to the ballot box,” Agau said.
He argued that critical reforms, including security sector reform, constitution-making, judicial reforms, and institutional changes, remain incomplete despite extensions of the transitional period.
The party questioned why there is renewed pressure for elections while the same challenges that previously delayed the process remain unresolved.
“If the conditions that justified the previous extensions still exist, why has there suddenly emerged an intense campaign advocating immediate elections?” he stated.
Agau noted that the current political environment, marked by insecurity and declining public confidence in state institutions, does not provide conditions for credible elections.
“Since the last extension, insecurity has spread to new areas of the country,” he said, citing rising community violence and armed confrontations in parts of the country.
The NDM also raised concerns over the preparedness and independence of the National Election Commission (NEC), saying the electoral body has not provided sufficient information about the election timeline.
Despite its criticism of the current process, it stressed that it does not support another extension of the transitional period under the existing political arrangement.
“Another extension of the transitional period under the present bloated and ineffective government is neither desirable nor sustainable,” the party said.
However, it called for an inclusive national dialogue involving peace agreement signatories, non-signatory groups, political parties, civil society organisations, faith-based institutions, women, youth, and other stakeholders.
“Such a dialogue should be mediated or facilitated by the African Union, IGAD, or another country or organisation acceptable to all participants,” the statement said.
NDM said the objective of the dialogue should be to build a new political arrangement capable of delivering lasting peace, justice, and democratic governance.
It added that if authorities proceed with elections without addressing the outstanding concerns, it will consult with like-minded political parties to determine a joint position on the way forward.
However, despite repeated calls from peace guarantors and international partners, progress on key transitional tasks has remained limited.
The political environment has also been complicated by the ongoing trial of suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and seven other co-accused over the March 2025 Nasir violence, a development that has further deepened concerns about political stability and inclusivity ahead of the planned elections.