South Sudan’s main opposition group, the SPLM-IO, has rejected President Salva Kiir’s proposed inter-party dialogue ahead of the country’s December 2026 elections, calling instead for talks under neutral regional or international mediation.
The position was presented on Monday by acting SPLM-IO chairman Oyet Nathaniel Pierino during a meeting with the African Union’s Ad Hoc High-Level Committee for South Sudan (C5), which is consulting political stakeholders on the country’s stalled peace process.
Oyet said the group believes the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement has been undermined by the detention of First Vice President Riek Machar in March 2025, changes to power-sharing arrangements and continued clashes involving government and opposition forces.
He argued that elections should only take place after key provisions of the peace deal, including permanent constitution-making, security sector reforms and the unification of forces, have been implemented.
The SPLM-IO welcomed efforts by the AU C5 to restore peace but rejected any dialogue chaired by President Kiir, saying he cannot lead negotiations while being a party to the conflict.
The C5, chaired by South Africa and comprising Algeria, Chad, Nigeria and Rwanda, has intensified diplomatic engagement since late 2025 over concerns about the future of South Sudan’s peace process.
South Sudan is scheduled to hold elections in December 2026 under the 2018 peace agreement, but opposition groups and international observers have raised concerns over insecurity, delays in reforms and whether conditions are in place for credible polls.