President Salva Kiir Mayardit is set to form a committee to promote dialogue among signatories of the 2018 revitalized peace agreement and other stakeholders regarding election-related concerns, according to officials and official documents.
While the exact date for the committee’s official establishment remains unclear, invitations from the president’s office have already been dispatched to key participants.
The invitations refer to a December 2025 meeting during which the presidency decided that parties to the 2018 peace deal would meet to resolve grievances and issues tied to the upcoming elections.
In December, the presidency and Cabinet endorsed amendments to critical elements of the peace agreement. These included decoupling the December 2026 elections from the permanent constitution-making process, national census, and other institutional reforms.
The revisions also eliminated provisions declaring the 2018 agreement superior to the transitional constitution.
General elections are slated for December 22, 2026, though preparations have been hampered by ongoing security threats and political obstacles.
Sources informed say that the president’s office excluded the SPLM-IO faction headed by suspended First Vice President Riek Machar—who is currently under house arrest and facing trial—from the invitations.
Instead, invitations went to the SPLM-IO group aligned with Peace Minister Stephen Par Kuol, along with other peace agreement signatories.
Edmund Yakani, executive director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), confirmed that his organization received an invitation to participate in the dialogue committee.
The invitation letter requested Yakani to formally confirm his participation by Thursday, January 22, to enable President Kiir to officially establish the body. It indicated that the discussions would focus on “election-related matters, including grievances from the parties.”
Yakani stressed that any such dialogue must fully respect both the spirit and provisions of the revitalized peace agreement, prioritizing inclusivity and the involvement of legitimate signatories.“
The committee to be formed by the president should facilitate consensus among parties and stakeholders for the conduct of elections,” Yakani stated.
He cautioned that proceeding with elections while insecurity persists in various regions would seriously compromise their legitimacy. He highlighted the dangers posed by continued clashes between government troops and SPLM-IO forces to the electoral process.
“Marginalizing the SPLM-IO faction led by Dr. Riek Machar is unhealthy and increases the risk of renewed armed conflict,” Yakani warned.
The 2018 peace agreement concluded a five-year civil war and established a transitional unity government responsible for steering the country toward elections.
Implementation has progressed unevenly, with major outstanding tasks—including the unification of armed forces and the drafting of a permanent constitution—still incomplete.
Tensions between President Kiir and Dr. Machar have frequently disrupted the peace process. ]
Machar was placed under house arrest in March 2025 following allegations of involvement in violence in Upper Nile State’s Nasir County, where White Army youth militias overran a military installation.
