The Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), Mr. Edmund Yakani, has urged President Salva Kiir Mayardit to translate his Christmas message of peace, forgiveness and reconciliation into concrete action, calling for the immediate release of political detainees as a starting point for genuine national healing.
Reacting to President Kiir’s Christmas address, in which the Head of State appealed to South Sudanese to reject violence, embrace unity and uphold reconciliation as the foundation of a strong nation, Yakani said the message carried “remarkable wishes” that resonate with the public, but warned that words alone are not enough without visible steps from the government and citizens.
“Reconciliation, forgiveness and peace are essential as the country heads toward elections,” Yakani said, stressing that the process must begin now and not be postponed.
He argued that releasing political detainees would demonstrate the President’s commitment to the values he outlined in his Christmas message and would help open space for broader national reconciliation.
Yakani specifically pointed to the need for political reconciliation with key figures, including Dr. Riek Machar, Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel and Gen. Akol Koor, among others, saying forgiveness and reconciliation with such leaders would signal a genuine willingness to heal divisions and rebuild trust across the political spectrum.
He cautioned, however, that reconciliation efforts driven by rigid preconditions, political manipulation or a lack of honesty and trust are unlikely to succeed.
According to Yakani, the political misuse of reconciliation and forgiveness poses serious risks to peace and could further deepen mistrust within South Sudan’s fragile political environment.
The civil society leader warned that the country is at a critical crossroads, particularly as political actors engage in ongoing processes to amend the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), the Transitional Constitution of 2011 (as amended), and other key legislation, including the Elections Act and the Political Parties Act of 2023.
Yakani emphasized that these reforms must be conducted through an inclusive political consensus involving all rightful signatories to the 2018 peace agreement, cautioning that exclusionary approaches could undermine the transition and derail prospects for credible elections.
In line with President Kiir’s call for unity and peaceful coexistence, Yakani said the President should personally lead the reconciliation and forgiveness process to inspire public confidence and encourage communities across the country to engage in similar efforts at the grassroots level.
He also confirmed that CEPO remains committed to facilitating the Joint Stakeholders–Parties Signatories meeting to the R-ARCSS, scheduled for January 2026, describing it as a critical platform for rebuilding trust, resolving political differences and safeguarding the peace process.
President Kiir, in his Christmas message, acknowledged the hardships facing South Sudan and linked the country’s recovery to ending violence and conducting elections as planned.
Yakani echoed this view, arguing that meaningful reconciliation and the release of political detainees would help create the peaceful environment necessary for credible elections and lasting stability.
The call adds to growing pressure from civil society for the government to move beyond symbolic gestures and take tangible steps toward national reconciliation as South Sudan approaches a pivotal political period
