A leading South Sudanese church official has cautioned that national elections are unlikely to take place next year unless the country’s leaders show genuine political will to advance peace.
In an interview with Radio Tamazuj, Rev. Tut Kony Nyang, General Secretary of the South Sudan Council of Churches, said that South Sudan’s political situation has regressed since March, citing communal violence, food shortages, and lack of political openness.
“Elections can still happen if political will exists,” he said. “What must come first is the unification of forces to guarantee security, followed by elections. A constitution can come later, shaped by leaders chosen by the people.”
Rev. Tut criticized South Sudan’s leaders for being self-centered and focusing mainly on power-sharing rather than the welfare of citizens. He warned that this attitude risks dragging the nation back into conflict.
Calling on leaders to honor their legacy, he said:
“If you fought for independence, was it just for your position—or for the betterment of the people who have suffered so much?”
The church leader urged South Sudan’s political class to “give peace a chance,” reminding them of Pope Francis’s historic plea in Juba, where he knelt to kiss their feet in 2019, urging reconciliation.
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