"Second Liberation" Needed: South Sudan Presidential Candidate Denounces Forced Election Plan
“Second Liberation” Needed: South Sudan Presidential Candidate Nathaniel Garang Aduotdit Denounces Forced Election Plan
JUBA – In an exclusive statement granted to Ethio Insight today, Nathaniel Garang Aduotdit, Chairman of the Real People’s Liberation Movement Forward (Real-SPLM.F) and presidential candidate for the 2026 elections in South Sudan, issued a sharp critique of President Salva Kiir’s decision to dissolve transitional government structures, warning that arbitrary polls will trigger widespread national disorder.
Garang Aduotdit asserted that dissolving key government institutions under the guise of holding an election is an unconstitutional move intended to consolidate autocratic rule. He emphasized that conducting a democratic election under current national conditions is impossible, pointing to critical flaws in electoral preparation and severe exclusions across major regions.
Addressing specific flaws in the electoral process, the Real-SPLM.F leader highlighted that voter registration has not taken place in key areas, including Upper Nile and Equatoria, leaving vast segments of the population disenfranchised.
He warned that holding elections under these conditions represents a deliberate strategy by President Kiir to retain power by force under an electoral banner. He further stressed that there is currently a complete absence of open political space in South Sudan allowing opposition parties and citizens to participate safely without fear of state repression.
To resolve the political impasse, Real-SPLM.F demanded an immediate, inclusive national dialogue among key political stakeholders, opposition leaders, and civil society to build genuine consensus. Garang Aduotdit reiterated that elections must be grounded in a finalized permanent constitution rather than arbitrary administrative decrees, and called for the immediate integration of all armed factions into a single, non-partisan national army to secure the country before any vote takes place.
Looking toward structural political transformation, the party proposed establishing a clear, broad-based alternative government of the people, followed by a credible national population head count to ensure accurate democratic representation. Calling for a necessary “second liberation,” Garang Aduotdit urged South Sudanese citizens and international partners to reject exclusionary political maneuvers and support a legitimate, peaceful governance framework that safeguards national stability.
The position expressed by the Real-SPLM.F leadership highlights the deepening institutional and security paralysis threatening South Sudan’s electoral roadmap. Rushing toward a contested ballot without structural security sector reform, an inclusive constitutional framework, and full regional voter participation risks dismantling the country’s fragile stability.
International guarantors, including IGAD, the African Union, and the United Nations, must urgently intervene to facilitate an inclusive national dialogue that restores political consensus, prevents total state collapse, and guarantees a peaceful path toward democratic governance.
