The Republic of South Sudan: Present generation of the 20th and partly early 21st centuries of South Sudanese, were born, brought up and educated in war zones of Southern Sudan or in the refugee camps. All had experienced or learned history of slavery, colonialism and liberation war erras.

The long suffering lured South Sudanese, like other nationals in Africa, to stage wars of freedom, from 1955 to 2005. A liberation war in which the SPLA/SPLM, achieved the national dream: freedom and independence peacefully; on 9th July 2011.

In December 2013, we felt into traps of our own self-destructive war from 2013 to 2018. To come out from this senseless war, we signed the R-ARCSS on 12 September 2018. This peace deal is now rocked in a failing stalemate of no war, no peace phenomena since 2019. But, President Salva Kiir Mayardit, the leader of the SPLM, one of the parties signatories to R-ARCSS, is determined to implement it “in letter and spirit.”

Herein below is an expanded article, introducing, discussing, concluding, referencing and citing Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, Botswana, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Western Europe. This gives the authority, showing that South Sudan can draw lessons both from Africa and beyond.

It reads: South Sudan at the Threshold of Change: From the SPLM as a movement to Democracy

By Dr. Aldo Ajou Deng- Akuey (PhD), Member of the National Legislature (Council of States)

Introduction

In the aftermath of the March 2025 unrest in Nasir, President Salva Kiir Mayardit demonstrated positive leadership. His decisions and public pronouncements showed both caution and vision.

He enforced law and order, secured the ceasefire, and recommitted the government to the full implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS). Notably, he moved forward with the unification of the national army and other security forces; an essential pillar for lasting peace.

Beyond security, the President initiated reforms to sovereign institutions: strengthening the independence of the National Bank of South Sudan and affirming the autonomy of the Judiciary.

In his July 9 Independence Day address, he called on all political actors, including both signatories and holdout groups, to recommit themselves to peaceful dialogue.

His July 16 address to parliament reinforced these commitments, signaling a serious arrow of change towards peace, security, transformation, democracy, and the rule of law.

These developments suggest a clear trajectory: President Kiir is steering South Sudan away from the legacy of one-party dominance under the SPLM towards a multiparty democratic order. If pursued consistently, this would mark a historical turning point in our nation’s history.

The Principles of Freedom in Democracy

For South Sudan to successfully transition into a multiparty democracy, there must be a constitutional and legal framework that protects and guarantees unalienable and universal freedoms. Such principles include:

• Freedom of Expression: Citizens must be able to voice their opinions without fear.
• Freedom of Speech and Debate: Political dialogue must replace political violence.
• Freedom of the Press: Journalists must operate independently to inform the people and hold leaders accountable.
• Freedom of Assembly and Association: Political parties, civil society groups, and communities must have the right to organize, meet, and participate peacefully.
• Free and Transparent Elections: A democratic process where the people’s will determines leadership, not force or manipulation.

These freedoms are not abstract ideals; they are practical instruments of peace. In societies where such freedoms thrive, dialogue and compromise flourish, and violence is minimized. In turn, democracy nurtures prosperity, stability, and dignity.

African Guidance and Universal Lessons

Africa itself provides guidance. From Ghana to South Africa, from Kenya to Botswana, Tanzania, and Rwanda, democratic reforms and national unity have given rise to peace and economic growth. Each of these nations struggled under autocracy or conflict but found pathways toward stability through democratic practice and strong institutions:

• Ghana overcame years of coups and military rule by building a multiparty democracy that is now among the most stable in Africa.
• South Africa, emerging from apartheid, built a liberal democracy anchored on reconciliation, constitutionalism, and free markets.
• Kenya reformed its political system after post-election violence, using democratic frameworks to reduce political exclusion.
• Botswana nurtured stability through multiparty democracy and careful economic management, becoming one of Africa’s most enduring success stories.
• Tanzania, though long under one-party dominance, gradually opened political space and maintained national unity through peaceful governance.
• Rwanda, after the 1994 genocide, combined peace-building with a framework of national reconciliation, economic transformation, and gradual democratic reforms.

Globally, the Western European experience offers further lessons. After centuries of monarchy and dictatorship, Europe turned towards liberal democracy in the 19th and 20th centuries. By guaranteeing freedoms and building market economies, they transformed into some of the most prosperous and peaceful societies in the world.

South Sudan can learn from both Africa and Europe: authoritarianism fuels cycles of violence, but democracy channels political competition into peaceful, structured, and transparent processes.

A Call to Action

We therefore urge President Salva Kiir Mayardit to instruct the Minister of Justice, Justice Wek Mamer, to provide a legal framework that guarantees liberties and freedoms. This framework should enshrine freedom of speech, press, assembly, and association as unshakable rights of South Sudanese citizens.

Such a step will not only consolidate peace but also prepare South Sudan for the free and transparent elections that must mark our democratic future. Once our country embraces democracy, the dividends will be clear: peace, prosperity, improved livelihoods, and the restoration of dignity to all citizens.

Conclusion

South Sudan stands at a threshold of change. The leadership of President Salva Kiir Mayardit has already taken encouraging steps in 2025; strengthening sovereignty, calling for peace, and pointing towards democracy. But to move fully forward, these gestures must be grounded in law, enforced by institutions, and guaranteed for generations.

A nation born from sacrifice deserves nothing less than the freedoms that make peace permanent. South Sudan must now become not only a sovereign country but also a democratic home for its people.

NB: The author believes that, embracing democracy, freedom and the rule law, could enhance peace, stability, trustworthiness, share-confidence, mutual respect and prosperity for all citizens and the country.