South Sudan’s planned inter-party political dialogue has been postponed by one week from September 17 to September 24, 2026, the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs announced on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
Cabinet Affairs Minister Martin Elia Lomuro, who is also rapporteur for the dialogue, said participating political parties had been informed of the change. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 10:00 local time at the Revitalised Transitional National Legislative Assembly in Juba. No reason was given for the postponement.
According to the government, the dialogue is intended to build political consensus and address outstanding issues ahead of elections. Parties that signed the 2018 peace agreement, as well as diplomatic missions, regional and international organizations, civil society and faith-based groups, have been notified.
However, some opposition groups have opposed holding the talks in Juba. During consultations with an African Union C5 delegation in August 2026, the United People’s Alliance (UPA) led by Pagan Amum and an SPLM-IO delegation led by acting chairman Oyet Nathaniel Pierino called for an inclusive dialogue at a neutral venue outside South Sudan. It remains unclear whether the groups have been formally invited to the Juba meeting.
Discussions are expected to cover constituency boundaries, political representation, election dates, campaign financing, security arrangements and political freedoms. Participants are also expected to consider voter registration and voting systems, the transmission of election results, access for domestic and international observers, and mechanisms for resolving electoral disputes.