CEPO urges SPLM to protect civilians, declare ceasefire ahead of joint caucus

JUBA – The Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation (CEPO) has called on the leadership of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) to place the protection of civilians at the centre of its deliberations, declare a ceasefire, and commit to an inclusive political dialogue during its upcoming joint caucus meeting in Juba.

Speaking ahead of the meeting scheduled for Monday, CEPO Executive Director Edmund Yakani said the prevailing political and security situation in South Sudan demands bold and responsible decisions from the ruling party to prevent a relapse into widespread violence.

Yakani expressed concern over the renewed clashes between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) in parts of the country, warning that such fighting erodes public confidence and contradicts President Salva Kiir’s repeated assurances that South Sudan will not return to war under his leadership.

He stressed that an immediate declaration and strict observance of a ceasefire, coupled with the launch of a South Sudanese-led and inclusive political dialogue among all parties signatory to the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement, is critical to de-escalating tensions and restoring stability.

Yakani also cautioned that internal divisions within political parties, including within the SPLM itself, could undermine the President’s call for inclusive dialogue and potentially derail the fragile peace process if left unaddressed.

Meanwhile, the SPLM has confirmed it will convene a joint caucus meeting at its headquarters in Juba on Monday, January 12. In a statement issued on Saturday, the party’s Secretary for Culture, Information and Communication, Daniel Badagbu Rimbasa, invited members of the Political Bureau, National Liberation Council, executive and parliamentary caucuses, as well as party advisers and secretaries, to attend the meeting at 9 a.m. at the SPLM House.

Although the party has not made public the agenda of the meeting, it is widely viewed as part of preparations for South Sudan’s planned general elections scheduled for December 2026.

Last month, the presidency and the Council of Ministers approved amendments to key provisions of the Revitalised Peace Agreement, including delinking elections from the permanent constitution-making process, a national population census, and other critical institutional reforms.

However, these amendments are yet to be endorsed by the National Legislature and the peace monitoring body, the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), and have attracted objections from opposition groups.

CEPO said the public is closely watching the outcome of the SPLM joint caucus, with expectations that the meeting will produce concrete decisions that advance peace, protect civilians, and safeguard the country’s fragile stability.