South Sudan Leaders Urged to Compromise on Election Roadmap to Ensure Peaceful Transition
The Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), Edmund Yakani, has called on the leadership of the negotiating team to merge the Tumaini Peace Mediation and R-ARCSS to create a middle ground for the country’s 2026 polls.
Speaking to the media, Yakani emphasized the importance of creating a “good enough condition” for elections, saying that the merger of Tumaini Consensus and their access would be a crucial step towards achieving this goal. He listed several key priorities, including unity in forces, personalization of judiciary reform, and adequate funding for various tasks, as well as delinking population census from elections.
Yakani appealed to President Salva Kiir, and other political leaders to support the merger plan, stating that it is the only viable option for delivering tangible results under the Tumaini mediation. He urged the negotiators to compromise within the next week, before the roll out of the newly extended transitional period, and achieve a tangible outcome.
The call comes as South Sudan continues to grapple with ongoing security concerns, economic instability, and humanitarian crises, raising fears of a return to conflict if the polls are not conducted smoothly. Yakani’s message underscores the urgent need for the country’s leadership to prioritize peace and stability, as South Sudan prepares to transition to a new government in 2026.
“We believe that a peaceful transition is key to the development of our country,” Yakani said. “The creation of a good enough condition for elections would enable us to make sure that we have a peaceful transition from the current situation to a situation of peace and stability.”
As South Sudan’s politicians navigate the complex negotiations, Yakani’s appeal serves as a critical reminder of the urgent need for compromise and collaboration to ensure a peaceful and successful transition.
