Two presidents sat down in Pretoria this week with one question on the table: can the world’s youngest nation finally go to the polls? The talks centred on South Sudan elections, which are due in December, and on the fragile peace deal that has to hold until then.
What the Two Leaders Discussed
President Salva Kiir and President Cyril Ramaphosa held what officials called productive talks on the peace process, election preparations, security and constitutional reforms. Kiir briefed his host on legal preparations, election administration, logistics and political dialogue, and outlined the technical and legal requirements still outstanding.
Kiir was also frank about what Juba lacks. He has said the country needs support with printing ballot papers and supplying voter registration materials. Ramaphosa, for his part, said South Africa stands ready to help and stressed the need for inclusive, credible processes.
Why Pretoria Keeps Showing Up
South Africa is no bystander here. Ramaphosa chairs the African Union High-Level Ad Hoc Committee for South Sudan, known as the C5, and has been tasked with supporting the country’s transition. At a February summit in Addis Ababa, Kiir said there would be no further extension of the transitional period. That promise matters because South Sudan has repeatedly postponed national elections since independence in 2011.
For many Africans, this story feels familiar. Delayed votes, patched-up peace deals and leaders who stay in office longer than planned are not unique to Juba. That is why the continent is watching. A credible vote in South Sudan would be a win for the African Union’s mediation efforts. Another delay would deepen the doubts many citizens already hold.
The Road to 22 December
The ballot is scheduled for 22 December, covering both presidential and legislative races. The visit also had a business side, as Kiir invited South African investors to look at mining, tourism, air transport and oil. Stability, in other words, is not only a political goal. It is what any investor will look for before committing money.
The real test is still ahead. Voter registration, ballot logistics, security and an open campaign space for opposition parties all need to come together within weeks. Ramaphosa has made clear that the responsibility for a peaceful transition ultimately rests with South Sudan’s own leaders.
Talk in Pretoria is encouraging, but South Sudanese citizens will judge their leaders by what happens at polling stations, not in meeting rooms. If the promises hold, December could mark a turning point for a country that has waited far too long to choose its leaders.
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