Veteran South Sudanese politician Dr. Aldo Ajou Deng has expressed confidence that President Salva Kiir will win the country’s December 22 election by a landslide. In an interview with Radio Tamazuj, Aldo, an influential member of the Jieng Council of Elders and a former lawmaker, said no political figure has yet emerged as a credible successor to the president. He attributed much of South Sudan’s instability to poor political leadership and the use of armed conflict to resolve political disputes.
Aldo said years of conflict have damaged the economy and state institutions by diverting public resources towards military spending. He also accused politicians of exploiting ethnic identities to mobilise support during periods of conflict, saying this has deepened tribal divisions. According to Aldo, the root cause of the war lies in a failure of leadership, specifically with the leaders who divided the party and the movement to pursue armed conflict.
The veteran politician rejected the idea that foreign governments could determine who should lead South Sudan, saying political authority should come through elections. He criticised the country’s opposition parties, saying none of the current political groups have the strength to mount a serious challenge to Kiir. Aldo said political parties should put national interests ahead of factional considerations and that opposition factions should support the nation first.
Aldo defended Kiir against criticism of his record in government, saying the president has shown restraint in dealing with political opponents. He also referred to allegations over the disappearance of billions of dollars in public funds, saying Kiir has demanded accountability. According to Aldo, the transitional system has failed because political actors have treated it primarily as a means of securing government positions and parliamentary seats.
Aldo said elections are necessary to give South Sudanese citizens the opportunity to choose their leaders and establish a more stable government. He expects Kiir to win by a large margin because, in his view, no current political figure poses a serious challenge to the president. The National Elections Commission has set December 22 as the date for presidential and legislative elections, which will be the country’s first national election since independence.
Aldo said the country’s next generation of politicians will eventually have to take over its leadership. He rejected accusations that Kiir’s leadership is driven by ethnic loyalty, saying the president has worked to promote inclusivity and peace with his opponents. According to Aldo, Kiir has spent much of his life in the liberation struggle and deserves to remain in office to consolidate his political legacy.
Aldo credited Kiir with helping steer South Sudan through the 2011 referendum on independence following the death of the country’s founding Sudan People’s Liberation Movement leader, John Garang. He criticised opposition leaders, arguing that some have contributed to renewed conflict rather than using political institutions to resolve disputes. Aldo said citizens are taking up arms over legislative disagreements without the capacity to sustain a conflict.
Key points
- President Salva Kiir will win the December 22 election by a landslide.
- The successor to President Kiir will likely come from a younger generation of politicians.
- Elections are necessary to give South Sudanese citizens the opportunity to choose their leaders and establish a more stable government.
