ANC President Warns Against Rushed Elections, Says Credibility Must Come First

By Awan Achiek

The President of the African National Congress (ANC), Gen. George Kongor Arop, has cautioned against conducting sham elections in South Sudan, arguing that they could pose greater risks to the nation than extending the transitional period.

Speaking at the launch of a three-day extraordinary meeting of the leadership council on Friday in Juba, Kongor emphasized that elections lacking credibility could exacerbate South Sudan’s ongoing crisis.

“When you seek legitimacy, it must encompass all processes. It is preferable to an extension. Sham elections are more perilous than an extension,” Kongor stated.

He called for integrity and credibility in the nation-building process.

“We are constructing a nation. It is a solid brick, not a rotten one. If it is a rotten one, the incoming leader will waste time trying to replace it with a good brick. They deserve accountable leadership,” he remarked.

Kongor asserted that the country deserves political competition based on ideas and programs rather than armed mobilization.

“This is a significant issue in South Sudan. You have a gun. Be patient. You have a gun. Be patient. This is why the ANC regards the forthcoming general elections as crucial. The announced date of December 22, 2026, must not be seen merely as another date in the political calendar,” he said.

He stressed that the elections are essential for closing the chapter on the prolonged transition and opening a new chapter of democratic legitimacy.

“We support elections, but let me make ANC’s position absolutely clear: anyone leaving ANC’s premises should understand our stance,” he added.

“We support elections, but we do not endorse elections without the minimal political, legal, security, and civic conditions necessary for them to be credible. If these conditions are not met, tomorrow you will hear that ANC is out.”

Albino Akol Atak, Secretary General of the ANC, stated that the Leadership Council meeting would address the party’s readiness for the elections, the status of the implementation of the R-ARCSS, prospects for peace, and the performance of party structures at all levels.

“The meeting will also review the Secretariat General Performance Report and reports from our states and administrative areas. This is an opportunity not only to account for our achievements but also to acknowledge our shortcomings, learn from them, and strengthen the party where necessary,” Akol said.

Akol added that the ANC is a non-violent party that supports peace initiatives and the establishment of conditions that allow for peaceful, free, and credible political competition.

“The ANC believes that South Sudan requires a political system in which differences are resolved through dialogue and democratic processes rather than conflict.”

The meeting, which included 45 members of the Leadership Council representing the 10 states and three administrative areas, with participation from women and youth, concluded on Sunday in Juba.