24/08/2026
๐ฃ๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐ฆ ๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ง
๐ข๐ณ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐
๐ฎ๐ฏ/๐ฌ๐ด/๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ
๐๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ, ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฒ
The Office of the President has taken note of recent statements questioning the electoral process and making claims about the liberation generation, national leadership and the direction of South Sudan.
The Office respects the right to criticize government and participate in national debate. However, such debate must be guided by facts, consistency and respect for the sacrifices through which South Sudan attained independence.
As the country moves toward the planned December elections, a clear contradiction has emerged. During the previous two postponements, some of the same voices now expressing reservations were among the loudest demanding to know why elections had been delayed and blaming the leadership of His Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit. Many were themselves serving in senior government positions and benefiting from the political arrangements they criticized.
Today, as elections are being prepared for, some of those who demanded elections now appear increasingly opposed to the very process they once demanded. The approaching elections are therefore revealing political positions and raising a legitimate question: are these positions based on principle or political calculations?
Elections should not be feared by anyone who genuinely believes in democracy. Those who believe the government has failed should present their case to the people; those seeking change should organize and persuade voters; and those who support the current leadership should be equally free to make their case. The people โ not political elites, government positions or political rhetoric โ must decide.
๐๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐
The Office rejects any attempt to rewrite the liberation struggle as the achievement of a select few while minimizing those who fought, served and continued to carry the responsibilities of the movement and the Republic.
When reference is made to those who stood with the late Dr. John Garang de Mabior, it must be remembered that the struggle was collective. President Salva Kiir Mayardit was a senior member of that struggle and a longstanding comrade of Dr. Garang.
His role in the liberation movement and the subsequent leadership of the Republic cannot be erased from that history.
To suggest that nobody was watching over the country after the loss of one liberation leader diminishes the many liberation-era leaders who remained and continued to shoulder responsibility for the movement and, ultimately, an independent South Sudan. The liberation struggle belongs to the people of South Sudan and should unite the country, not become an instrument of political division.
๐๐จ๐ง๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ญ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐๐ง ๐๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ฅ
South Sudan must honor its veterans and liberators and value its greatest national resource: its people. Where former liberators face hardship, the response should be a serious national effort to recognize their contribution, protect their dignity and support those who sacrificed for the country. Their struggles should not be turned into political weapons.
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐
๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐
South Sudan has endured conflict, displacement, political uncertainty and enormous sacrifice. The country cannot remain trapped in cycles of postponement and uncertainty.
The December elections provide an opportunity to return political choice to the people through the ballot box and should be supported by all who believe citizens are the ultimate source of political legitimacy.
The Office calls upon political leaders, parties, civil society, the media and citizens to conduct the electoral debate peacefully and responsibly. Let those who seek leadership make their case, those who seek change present their alternatives, and those who support the government defend its record. Above all, let the people decide.
The liberation generation fought for a South Sudan in which its people would determine their own destiny. That principle must remain at the center of the country's democratic journey.
The Office of the President therefore reiterates its commitment to a peaceful, orderly and democratic electoral process and calls upon all South Sudanese to protect the unity, stability and sovereignty of the Republic as the country moves toward December.
๐๐ก๐
๐ข๐ณ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐
Office of the President - Republic of South Sudan
