CEPO Director Edmund Yakani | Photo: Awan Moses/Eye Radio.

Civil society activist Edmond Yakani has called on South Sudan’s ruling SPLM party to immediately declare a ceasefire to halt ongoing fighting in parts of the country, ahead of a joint SPLM executive and legislative caucus meeting scheduled for Tuesday.

Yakani, the Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), said the meeting is critical for the future of peace and stability in South Sudan and urged SPLM leaders to use it to de-escalate military confrontations between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and the SPLA-IO.

“What we are expecting from the SPLM meeting is an immediate declaration of ceasefire,” he said.

“We need to see the ongoing military confrontation between SSPDF and SPLA-IO de-escalated through a ceasefire, because some parts of the country are already in war and civilians are suffering without humanitarian assistance.”

Yakani appealed not only to the SPLM leadership but also to SPLM-IO and SPLA-IO to observe a ceasefire, warning that continued fighting contradicts repeated assurances by President Salva Kiir that South Sudan would not return to war.

He said civilians are being displaced and forced to survive in bushes without aid, describing the situation as a betrayal of the values of independence and the responsibility to protect citizens.

Beyond the ceasefire, Yakani urged the SPLM caucus to commission an inclusive political dialogue involving all signatories to the Revitalized Peace Agreement, arguing that dialogue — not military force — is the only viable path to resolving political differences.

On elections, Yakani said while South Sudanese want to vote, credible elections cannot be held under conditions of insecurity. He called for an electoral dialogue to establish minimum conditions for peaceful polls ahead of the scheduled December 2026 elections.

“Everybody wants elections, but elections must be conducted in a conducive environment. Ongoing insecurity undermines campaigns, voter registration, and political participation. We need improved security and a national agreement on conditions for peaceful and credible elections.”

Yakani warned against the use of elections as a political tactic to intimidate opponents or delay reforms, stressing that polls should unite South Sudanese rather than deepen divisions.

He concluded by urging SPLM leaders to uphold the party’s founding vision of unity, peace, and civilian protection, saying civil society stands ready to support a genuine transition from violence to peace.