SPLM Meeting Rescheduled in Juba
South Sudan’s ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) has postponed its joint caucus meeting to Tuesday, 13 January 2026, according to a party official.
The session had initially been planned for Monday, an invitation issued on Saturday indicated. In a statement released on Sunday, SPLM Secretary for Culture, Information and Communication Daniel Badagbu Rimbasa cited “unavoidable circumstances” for the change.
Who Is Expected at the SPLM House
Daniel Badagbu Rimbasa invited members of the party’s Political Bureau, National Liberation Council, and the executive and parliamentary caucuses to attend at the SPLM House in Juba.
Advisers, secretaries, and deputy secretaries were also called to participate, underlining the broad internal coordination the ruling party appears to be seeking ahead of key national milestones.
Election Preparations and an Undisclosed Agenda
The SPLM has not made public the agenda for the joint caucus meeting. Still, it is widely seen by observers as part of preparations linked to South Sudan’s planned general elections.
Polls are currently scheduled for December 2026, after earlier electoral timelines shifted amid implementation challenges surrounding the country’s political transition framework.
Peace Deal Amendments: What Has Been Approved So Far
Last month, the presidency and the Cabinet approved amendments to key provisions of the 2018 revitalized peace agreement. The package included delinking the December 2026 elections from the permanent constitution-making process, a national population census, and other institutional reforms.
The amendments also removed provisions stating that the peace agreement takes precedence over the constitution, a change that has drawn attention among political stakeholders tracking the legal hierarchy of transitional arrangements.
Parliament and Monitoring Body Still Pending
The proposed changes have not yet been endorsed by parliament. They have also yet to be endorsed by the peace monitoring body, the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission.
For many analysts, these pending steps will be central in determining how quickly the revised roadmap can be formalised and translated into operational decisions for election-related preparations.
2018 Revitalized Peace Deal and Political Reactions
The 2018 peace deal was signed by President Salva Kiir, opposition leader Riek Machar, and other political leaders. The agreement has faced repeated delays, with elections postponed several times.
While polls are now scheduled for December 2026, Machar’s allies have objected, saying the presidency-led consultations that produced the amendments excluded them. The unfolding debate adds political weight to the SPLM’s internal consultations in Juba.