Dr Lam Akol, the leader of the National Democratic Movement at a party Headquarters in Juba August 3, 2023 - Moses Awan/Eye Radio

The Chairperson of the National Democratic Movement (NDM), Dr. Lam Akol, has expressed the readiness of his party to register and participate in the December 2026 elections on the condition that frameworks ensuring a credible process are established.

Dr. Lam stated this upon arrival in Juba on Thursday following a period of months spent in Jordan for medical treatment. He returned to South Sudan by way of Nairobi and was received by party officials and supporters at Juba International Airport.

Speaking to reporters at the airport, the politician stated that the NDM supports elections and is prepared to enter the democratic process. He stated that elections constitute a sequence of procedures rather than a single-day event, and require specific conditions to function.

He noted that these conditions include allowing parties to campaign, expanding civic and political space, and requiring the National Elections Commission to release an electoral timetable to the public.

“We have always been ready to exercise the democratic process. But what is democratic process? All of us have different definition of it. We think that election is a process. It is not an event. And for it to be possible, there are certain things that must be done.

“You must have a widened civic space. You must have the political parties campaigning freely. You must have the electoral commission doing its job as required. The public must know the timetable for the election. And this is what we require from the National Election Commission. But we have always been calling for the elections, and we will always be ready.”

The NDM leader stated that his organization remains committed to entering the process.

His statements follow a directive from the Political Parties Council (PPC) requiring political organizations to submit audited financial reports and complete registration procedures prior to the polls. The PPC stated that organizations failing to meet these legal obligations face administrative penalties, including disqualification from the process.

On governance and spending, Dr. Lam repeated party statements regarding the size of the government structure, stating that resources should instead fund the needs of citizens.

He stated that South Sudan cannot maintain the current volume of national and state institutions while civil servants remain unpaid. He noted the presence of salary arrears for public employees and stated that priorities should center on the welfare of citizens rather than the maintenance of political structures.

“The NDM has always been against this bloated government, that we have this bloated government. You know, 650 members of parliament. You have forty-five ministers, you know, and five vice presidents, and you have 170 ministers in the states. You have 1,000 members of parliament in the states. Simply, we cannot afford that. And the people are going without salaries for two years. So, we must set our priorities right.”

The return of the NDM chairperson occurs during the transition period as parties prepare for post-independence elections and debate reforms under the Revitalized Peace Agreement.