14/09/2026
The Opinion: Why Elections Are Good for All Political Parties in the Republic of South Sudan.
By Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth
September 14, 2026
Elections are not a threat to political Leaders or political parties. They are the foundation of legitimacy, accountability and democratic authority. They give citizens the power to choose their Leaders and give those Leaders the confidence to say, without qualification: โI was elected by the people.โ
As the Republic of South Sudan prepares for the December 2026 General Elections, every political party should welcome this historic opportunity. These elections are not about one party. They are about the legitimacy of our institutions and the future of our country.
Since independence in 2011, South Sudan has not held general elections in which citizens directly elected their national Leaders. Meanwhile, our neighbors in East Africa have continued to elect their Presidents, Members of Parliament and other Leaders.
I was once told by a South Sudanese Member of Parliament that, during an East African Community Parliamentary Games in Arusha, Tanzania, another MP participant from EAC asked him: โAre you really an MP, or are you one of those MPs who can be revoked at any time?โ
It was an embarrassing question to my friend, the MP from South Sudan, but it highlighted an important reality: an elected mandate carries a legitimacy that an appointment cannot fully replace.
This is why elections should be embraced by everyone.
For the governing party, elections provide an opportunity to defend its record and seek a fresh mandate from the people. For opposition parties, they provide an opportunity to present alternative policies, challenge the government, mobilize citizens, and seek the peopleโs mandate to govern.
That is democracy.
Political parties should not fear the ballot box. They should trust the people.
South Sudan has spent too long navigating transitional political arrangements. A young nation cannot remain in transition indefinitely. At some point, the people must have the final word.
The December 2026 elections should therefore be seen as an opportunity to move South Sudan forward, to strengthen our institutions, renew political mandates, and give our Leaders the democratic legitimacy they deserve.
After the elections, our Leaders should proudly stand before the nation and say:
โI am elected by the people of South Sudan.โ
That is the legitimacy we should all seek.
Let the people decide. Let the ballot speak. Let South Sudan move forward!
