SPLM says it is ahead of schedule in preparations for December 2026 elections

By Jenifer James

The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) says it is ahead of schedule in preparing for the December 22, 2026 general elections, with its Secretary-General, Akol Paul Kordit, reporting significant progress in organising party congresses and selecting candidates for legislative and gubernatorial positions across the states.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Kordit expressed confidence that the remaining selection processes would be completed well before the elections.

“We are way ahead of time. We are okay,” he stated, noting that congresses were progressing smoothly in most states.

He mentioned that the selection of candidates for the National Assembly’s 102 geographical constituencies is nearly finished, while choosing gubernatorial candidates can be completed in about an hour during state congresses.

“The election of a candidate for governorship only takes an hour in the state congress for the delegates to choose,” he explained.

To promote internal democracy and prevent local political interests from influencing the process, Kordit indicated that officials from various regions are being deployed to oversee congresses in other areas. For instance, officials from the former Bahr el Ghazal and Equatoria regions are supervising congresses in the Greater Upper Nile region, while those from Upper Nile and Bahr el Ghazal are overseeing activities in Equatoria.

This arrangement aims to enhance confidence in the party’s internal electoral processes and facilitate democratic leadership transitions.

Kordit also addressed concerns regarding South Sudan’s ethnic divisions, emphasizing the need for deliberate efforts to foster national unity and peaceful coexistence.

“Our society is ethnically structured. It’s not our mistake. There’s no convention that should discount this reality. We all found ourselves in this situation,” he remarked.

He proposed long-term development initiatives, including government-supported housing schemes, to bring communities together through shared neighborhoods and social interaction.

His plan suggests constructing 10,000 houses in each state, allocating some to local residents and others to public servants relocated from different parts of the country.

These houses could be financed through long-term loans deducted from beneficiaries’ salaries over a period of 10 to 30 years.

“The children born in these neighborhoods will get to know each other and become friends,” Kordit argued, suggesting that mixed communities could help reduce ethnic divisions among future generations.

Additionally, the SPLM Secretary-General called for increased oil production and investment in the country’s natural resources to fund development programs and improve citizens’ living conditions.

“People are free in South Sudan. The country is wealthy. We must work hard, exploit our resources, and invest in the development of our people,” he

stated, expressing optimism that South Sudan can leverage its natural resources to combat poverty and enhance the welfare of its population.