By Matik Kueth
The South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SAWA) has called for outstanding legal and political issues to be resolved as political parties continue discussions on preparations for the December 22, 2026 elections.
Speaking on Tuesday at the Inter-Party Dialogue in Juba, Changkuoth Bichiok Reath, SSOA’s Secretary-General, said the limited time before the planned elections requires political actors and other stakeholders to focus on unresolved issues affecting the electoral process.
He appealed for financial support for political parties that meet the required conditions, saying adequate funding is necessary for parties to participate in the electoral process.
“Given the limited time, the main priority should be based on resolving our standing in legal and political issues instead of electoral administration and politics, ensuring a secure environment and sustaining a constructive dialogue among political actors,” Reath stated.
He added, “On the same note, political parties should be funded to the extent that they meet key requirements.”
Reath emphasized that electoral institutions should be given the legal authority and resources needed to carry out their responsibilities.
“Key actions should include clarifying outstanding legal and institutional questions affecting the electoral process, ensuring that electoral institutions have the necessary legal authority, resources, and institutional support to discharge their responsibilities,” he said.
He noted that SSOA supports the Inter-Party Dialogue as a national platform for political parties to discuss preparations for the elections.
The alliance proposed four interconnected pathways aimed at creating conditions for what it described as peaceful, free, fair, credible and orderly elections.
The first pathway focuses on the legal and institutional framework governing the elections.
It called for legislation, regulations, procedures and electoral timelines to be reviewed to identify outstanding gaps, inconsistencies and unresolved issues, stressing the need for clear procedures for handling electoral complaints, disputes and appeals in a timely and transparent manner.
SSOA further underlined that such mechanisms or courts should be accessible to complainants without hindrance and urged authorities to clearly communicate electoral requirements and procedures to political parties, candidates, voters and other stakeholders.
The Inter-Party Dialogue is taking place as South Sudan prepares for the planned December 22, 2026 elections, with political parties discussing the legal, administrative, security, and institutional requirements for the electoral process, and is expected to end within two weeks’ time.