South Sudanese opposition leader Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin has returned to Juba after several months of medical treatment in Jordan, declaring that his National Democratic Movement (NDM) is prepared to contest the December 2026 general elections if conditions for a credible and inclusive poll are met.

Speaking to reporters upon arrival on Thursday, Dr. Akol, who leads the NDM, stressed that elections must be viewed as a comprehensive process rather than a one-day event.

“We think that election is a process. It is not an event and for it to be possible, there are certain things that must be done,” he said.

“You must have a widened civic space. You must have the political parties campaign freely.”

Akol urged the National Election Commission to provide clear guidance on the electoral timetable, saying political parties need adequate time and information to prepare effectively for the polls.

The NDM, a member of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) and signatory to the 2018 peace agreement, says it is ready to fulfil all registration requirements and participate fully once the necessary legal and institutional frameworks are in place.

“We have always been calling for the elections, and we will always be ready,” Akol affirmed.

His return comes just days after the Political Parties Council set June 30, 2026 as the deadline for political parties to complete registration ahead of the planned general elections.

South Sudan is scheduled to hold its first general elections since gaining independence in 2011 in December 2026.

The government views the polls as a critical milestone in the country’s political transition, while opposition parties and civil society organisations continue to demand reforms to guarantee credibility and inclusivity.

Dr. Akol was removed as Minister of Transport in October 2025 by President Salva Kiir after serving only five months in the position.

A long-time critic of President Salva Kiir’s leadership, Dr. Lam Akol founded the National Democratic Movement in 2016.

He previously led the SPLM-DC after breaking away from the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in 2009 and contested the 2010 presidential election against Kiir.

Prior to South Sudan’s independence, he served as Sudan’s Foreign Minister.

His return is expected to inject fresh momentum into opposition preparations as the country moves closer to the historic vote.