Former Speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly and senior SPLM political figure, Dr. Jemma Nunu Kumba, has called on party members in Western Equatoria State to strengthen unity, embrace dialogue and mobilize citizens for SPLM registration ahead of the party’s anticipated congress and South Sudan’s December 2026 general elections.
Dr. Nunu made the remarks while addressing SPLM members in Yambio after registering her membership with the party in Western Equatoria State, saying she deliberately chose to register in the state to demonstrate leadership and encourage party members and supporters to participate in the registration exercise.
She urged SPLM structures, including the women and youth wings, to mobilize communities and ensure that eligible members participate in the party registration process.
“We have to take the lead to mobilize and bring our people together. I am here to encourage all of you, men, women and youth, to register in big numbers because we must know how many members we have in Western Equatoria,” Dr. Nunu said.
While, reflecting on her political journey, Dr. Nunu said her commitment to the SPLM was rooted in the liberation struggle rather than the pursuit of government positions.
She recalled joining the liberation struggle in the early 1990s, saying young people who joined the movement did so because of the suffering and mistreatment experienced by South Sudanese, rather than with expectations of becoming ministers, lawmakers or other government officials.
She said her subsequent service in senior government positions—including as governor, national minister and Speaker of the national legislature—should not be interpreted as the basis of her political identity.
“Our primary objective was not to get positions. Our original objective was to liberate ourselves. Even now that I am no longer a Speaker and no longer a minister, I want to tell you that I remain a committed SPLM member,” she said.
Dr. Nunu urged party members not to abandon the SPLM or develop hostility toward the party simply because they lose political positions.
According to her, political appointments should be viewed as assignments that can begin and end, while commitment to the party’s broader objectives should remain.
“When your assignment is over, you sit and wait; another assignment will come. Remain committed and do the work of the party,” she told supporters.
In a calls for unity and reconciliation, Dr. Nunu described the SPLM as a political platform capable of bringing South Sudanese together, while acknowledging that disagreements within a political organisation are inevitable, particularly in a country emerging from prolonged conflict.
She called for dialogue, forgiveness and reconciliation to address political and community differences.
She also urged party members to shift their attention away from personal political disputes and focus on broader challenges facing citizens, including peace, security, education, livelihoods and freedom of movement.
“The issue is not about individuals. The issue is: Do we have peace in this country? Are our people eating? Is there security? Can they move freely without being killed? Can women move freely without being raped? Are our children going to school?” she asked.
She said political leaders should be judged by what they can contribute to improving the lives of citizens rather than by where they travel, whom they meet or which political positions they currently hold.
Kumba also outlined the anticipated process leading to the SPLM congress, urging members in Western Equatoria to prepare for internal party elections.
She said the process would involve mobilization and the selection of party structures from the grassroots level through the boma, payam, county and state levels before delegates proceed to the national level.
According to her, the national convention would subsequently elect senior party structures, including the party chairman, deputies and members of the Political Bureau and other organs.
She urged SPLM members in Western Equatoria to participate actively in the process and prepare themselves for the selection of representatives.
However, when talking about primary elections and candidate selection, Dr. Nunu further highlighted the expected importance of primary elections in selecting SPLM candidates for various elective positions ahead of the national polls.
She explained that, unlike previous arrangements in which electoral colleges played a major role in selecting candidates, party members should prepare for a process involving competitive internal elections.
Using the position of governor as an example, she said aspirants from across the state’s counties could compete through a primary process before one candidate emerges as the party’s flag bearer.
“If there are ten members who want to be governor, you will only elect one,” she said, stressing the importance of preparing party members for the process.
On voter registration and civic education and SPLM membership registration, Dr. Nunu called for increased public awareness about the broader electoral process.
She said eligible South Sudanese should register to vote and understand that participation in elections is a civic right.
She urged political leaders, party structures and communities to support civic education so that voters understand registration, voting procedures and the importance of participating peacefully in the electoral process.
South Sudan is expected to hold its first post-independence general elections in December 2026, following years of transitional political arrangements and repeated delays.
The planned elections are expected to be a major test for the country’s political institutions, political parties and security environment.
Dr. Nunu cautioned citizens against allowing disagreements over political candidates to undermine community relationships.
The former Speaker also appealed for restraint among SPLM members, saying political competition should not turn into personal attacks or divisions within communities.
She encouraged members to concentrate on issues affecting ordinary people and to use dialogue to resolve disagreements.
“Let us leave those small things. There are bigger things we should be talking about,” she said.
Her remarks come as political parties and institutions across South Sudan intensify preparations for the December 2026 elections, while the SPLM begins mobilizing its structures and membership ahead of its internal congress.
For Western Equatoria, the process is likely to generate increased political activity as party members prepare to select structures and candidates ahead of the national polls.
Dr. Nunu concluded by urging SPLM members to remain united, register in large numbers and participate constructively in the party’s internal processes.
She maintained that her continued involvement in the SPLM was based not on holding public office but on her longstanding belief in the party’s political mission.
“I am not defined by the position of Speaker, minister or member of Parliament. I am defined by my firm belief in the SPLM,” Dr. Nunu said.
Her call places party unity, grassroots mobilization, internal democracy, civic education and peaceful political participation at the centre of the SPLM’s preparations for both its forthcoming congress and the wider electoral process.
