South Sudan Presidency addresses nomination confusion
South Sudan’s Office of the President has clarified the inclusion of a deceased nominee in the leadership body set up to steer dialogue on election-related matters under the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
Republican Order and the consultative nomination process
In a statement issued on Monday, Press Secretary Amb. David Amour Majur said Mr. Steward Sorobo Budia, listed in a Republican Order dated January 30, 2026, had been submitted by one R-ARCSS signatory stakeholder during consultations.
Amb. Majur said the Presidency held wide-ranging consultations and asked stakeholders to provide names for consideration, aiming for inclusive and representative participation in the dialogue structure.
Verification gap acknowledged by the Office of the President
According to the statement, the Office relied on the accuracy and timeliness of information shared during the formal consultative phase.
“It has since become evident that a thorough verification was not conducted by one of the submitting stakeholders, resulting in this unfortunate administrative oversight,” Amb. Majur said.
Corrective steps: amending the Republican Order
Amb. Majur said the Office of the President is taking immediate steps to amend the Republican Order.
He added that the Presidency is awaiting the resubmission of a replacement nominee from the concerned stakeholder to fill the vacancy created by the passing of Mr. Budia.
Condolences and strengthened nomination procedures
The statement conveyed condolences to Mr. Budia’s family and said corrective measures are being instituted.
Amb. Majur said the Office will strengthen verification procedures for future nominations, to ensure stakeholder submissions meet high standards of accuracy and accountability.
Why the dialogue body matters for elections
The leadership body is mandated to facilitate dialogue among R-ARCSS signatory parties and other stakeholders on key election-related issues, as South Sudan moves toward its next political milestones, according to the Office of the President.