South Sudanese President Salva Kiir arrived back in Juba on Friday, October 9, 2026, after a six-day trip to Kenya and South Africa. He was welcomed by caretaker Minister of Presidential Affairs Africano Mande Gedima. According to his office, Kiir's visits focused on strengthening diplomatic ties and securing technical and logistical support for South Sudan's electoral process, which is scheduled for December 22.
During his visit to Kenya, Kiir met with President William Ruto in Nairobi on Monday, October 5. He then traveled to South Africa, where he met with President Cyril Ramaphosa in Pretoria on Wednesday, October 7. A statement from the presidential press unit said that Kiir discussed the country's peace process and preparations for elections with the two leaders.
Kiir informed his counterparts that the necessary legal steps for holding elections had been completed, while administrative, logistical, and financial preparations are ongoing. He also mentioned that inter-party dialogue was nearing completion. The leaders emphasized that successful elections would contribute to peace and security in East Africa, the Horn of Africa, and the wider continent.
In Pretoria, Kiir expressed gratitude to Ramaphosa for his leadership of the African Union's High-Level Ad Hoc Committee on South Sudan, known as the C5. He also acknowledged South Africa's support during the implementation of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the 2011 referendum that led to South Sudan's independence.
Kiir outlined the progress made in preparations for the elections, including the establishment of the National Elections Commission's headquarters, civic education, and the identification of voter registration centers. He also requested assistance from South Africa with commission-branded ballot boxes, specialized training for election officials, and digital identification cards for election and operational staff.
Ramaphosa welcomed the reported progress and reaffirmed South Africa's support for peaceful, inclusive, fair, and credible elections. The two sides agreed to follow up on the requests through technical consultations. South Sudan is scheduled to hold elections on December 22, following repeated delays to the transitional period established under a 2018 peace agreement intended to end years of civil war.
The planned vote faces significant political and logistical challenges, including the completion of electoral preparations and efforts to build consensus among rival political groups. On September 22, Kiir dissolved the transitional government and signed amendments to the National Elections Act, removing the completion of a permanent constitution and a national census as prerequisites for holding elections.
Key points
- President Salva Kiir of South Sudan returns to Juba after a six-day visit to Kenya and South Africa to discuss the country's peace process and upcoming elections.
- Kiir's visits focused on strengthening diplomatic ties and securing technical and logistical support for South Sudan's electoral process, which is scheduled for December 22.
- The planned vote faces significant political and logistical challenges, including the completion of electoral preparations and efforts to build consensus among rival political groups.
