Salva Kiir Confirms Candidacy For South Sudan Elections

Salva Kiir Confirms Presidential Bid for Historic Elections

The vote has previously been postponed twice, in 2022 and 2024. During a separate interview at the State House in Juba with Kenyan journalist Jeff Koinange on Jeff Koinange Live (JKL) broadcast on Citizen TV Kenya, Kiir stated that citizens are eager to move forward, according to Radio Tamazuj. South Sudan is ready for elections because the people want to elect their leaders and to get out of this transition, which the people think is not good with them, Kiir said, speaking slowly and haltingly. He urged citizens to register in large numbers so they can pick their own leaders rather than having them dictated.

Government Restructuring and Transition Concerns

President Kiir defended the existing power-sharing arrangement as a necessary compromise to keep the peace following years of conflict, noting that having five vice presidents and other measures worked because the country needed stability. However, he signaled plans to reduce the size of the government after the elections, pointing out that the current structure—which includes five vice presidents and 650 parliament members—has prevented development and must be reduced to clear a window for progress.

While Kiir’s camp insists the elections will proceed as scheduled, several opposition groups—including the SPLM-IO led by detained First Vice President Riek Machar—have raised doubts over whether proper conditions are in place. Machar remains detained and on trial for his role in armed fighting in Nasir, Upper Nile State, in March 2025. Critics point out that key benchmarks from the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement remain incomplete, including security sector reforms, the unification of armed forces, and civic education. Furthermore, voter registration has not yet started, and the election law has faced scrutiny for flaws such as mistakenly providing for 105% of seats in the national assembly and reusing 2010 boundary constituencies from Sudan.

Legal Amendments and Church Warnings

To clear the path for the upcoming vote, South Sudan’s parliament approved controversial amendments to the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement on 1 July, removing legal requirements that previously linked elections to a population census and a permanent constitution. President Kiir assented to these changes, overriding objections from opposition lawmakers and groups who argued that foundational steps like a permanent constitution—which is expected to define the distribution of power, state authorities, and customary law—should be finalized first.

Amid these political tensions, Catholic Church leaders in South Sudan have warned of a potential constitutional crisis and urged full implementation of the peace deal. In a statement, the Catholic Bishops appealed for decisions concerning the electoral process to be guided by dialogue, mutual trust, constitutional order, legal clarity, and sufficient preparedness. They further urged citizens to reject violence, tribalism, and misinformation, announcing plans to issue a comprehensive pastoral message to help the faithful navigate the national situation as the December 2026 election approaches.