President Salva Kiir Mayardit has met with a select group of political leaders ahead of an Inter-Party Dialogue scheduled for September 17, as South Sudan prepares for elections expected in December 2026.
The meeting brought together leaders from several political groups, including Stephen Par Kuol, who heads the SPLM-IO faction; Dr Martin Elia Lomuro of the National Agenda; and Denay Jock Chagor, leader of the South Sudan United Movement (SSUM), which is part of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) coalition.
Also present was SPLM Secretary General Dr Akol Paul Kordit. President Kiir chairs the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).
The consultations come as political parties prepare to use the September 17 Inter-Party Dialogue to discuss outstanding issues surrounding the electoral process and the country’s transitional political settlement.
The planned dialogue is expected to provide a platform for parties and other stakeholders to negotiate key electoral questions ahead of the December polls, as well as issues that may require broader political consensus after the elections.
However, the meeting did not include some of the most prominent opposition figures. The SPLM-IO faction led by suspended First Vice-President Dr Riek Machar, who remains detained, was not represented by its senior leadership at the meeting. Other leading figures from the wider SSOA coalition were also not seen among those who attended.
The composition of the meeting highlights the political divisions that could shape the upcoming inter-party discussions, particularly as the government and opposition groups continue to differ over the implementation of the transitional political settlement and preparations for the elections.
With the September dialogue approaching, the government is expected to engage a wider range of political parties and stakeholders in an effort to build consensus on the electoral roadmap and reduce political tensions ahead of the December vote.
The September 17 meeting will therefore be closely watched as a test of how broadly the political process can accommodate competing parties and factions as South Sudan moves toward its planned elections.
