Political tensions have risen between South Sudan’s ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and opposition alliance leader Kornelio Kon Ngu after the two sides exchanged criticism over the SPLM’s political identity and activities ahead of the country’s planned elections.
Kon, who chairs the National Alliance of Political Parties and serves as the Third Deputy Speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) under the 2018 peace agreement, reportedly described the SPLM as an armed group rather than a political party during a National Alliance conference in Juba on 28 August.
The remarks have drawn a strong response from the SPLM, which accused Mr Kon of making baseless and aggressive claims against the ruling party.
In a statement presented by Ambassador John Andruga Duku, the SPLM National Secretary for Political Affairs, Mobilisation and Organisation, and Jimmy Atilio, Acting Secretary for Culture, Information and Communication, the party reaffirmed its status as a registered political party committed to multiparty democracy and peaceful political competition.
The SPLM said Mr Kon was mistaken in his criticism of a former Kitgwang-Agwelek senior military commander who recently appeared at the SPLM House.
According to the party, the former Agwelek commander attended the event after the group’s political wing decided to dissolve its political structures and join the SPLM as part of an agreement reached between the government and the Kitgwang-Agwelek political and military wings.
Despite General Olony appearing at the event dressed in clothing bearing SPLM colours and party branding, SPLM officials said the use of party-branded clothing did not by itself establish that he had formally joined the party or become an SPLM member.
The SPLM said the commander had already been integrated into the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and attended the gathering in a political capacity to witness the former Agwelek political leadership joining the SPLM.
The ruling party also accused Kon of failing to understand the process and urged him to focus on building support for his own party ahead of the elections.
“We urge Rt. Hon. Kon to work hard in winning South Sudanese people to join his party ahead of elections,” the SPLM said.
The party further called on Kon to avoid what it described as interference in SPLM affairs and to develop campaign messages focused on the needs of voters rather than the activities of the ruling party.
The SPLM also rejected Kon’s prediction that violence could occur before the party holds its national convention.
The party described the prediction as baseless and said it had no intention of allowing violence to disrupt its political activities.
The exchange comes as political parties prepare for South Sudan’s planned 22 December 2026 elections, which are expected to determine the country’s leadership at the end of the prolonged transitional period.
Kon is among opposition figures positioning themselves for the presidential contest. His increasingly critical rhetoric towards the ruling party has placed him at odds with the SPLM leadership as campaigning gathers pace.
The latest dispute also comes amid divisions within the National Alliance itself.
Several member parties recently announced that they had withdrawn confidence in Kon as chairperson and rejected his reported presidential candidacy, creating uncertainty over his authority to speak for the wider opposition grouping.
The SPLM, meanwhile, has defended its political credentials and urged political opponents to compete through election campaigns rather than attacks on the party.
The exchange highlights the increasingly competitive political environment ahead of the December polls, with parties seeking to consolidate their support while South Sudan prepares for its first national election since independence.
