By Theophilous Ochang

Some key community stakeholders, including youth in Torit, Eastern Equatoria State, have expressed mixed reactions over the worsening security situation in the country.

This came during the opening of a three-day training on the Election process, a session that aims at equipping about 33 participants that include young women and men, returnees, IDPs, civil society, and persons with disabilities to effectively participate in the slated December 2026 general election.

The training was organized by the EVE organization, with funding from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Speaking during the opening of the training in Torit on Tuesday, Joseph Vigilio, a youth leader in Torit called on the youth to prepare themselves and to conduct more awareness on the electoral process to the local communities.

“We are calling on the youth outside to prepare themselves and do awareness to their communities on how the election will be done and there should be peace during the election,” he said.

Vigilio expressed worries over the country’s worsening security situation and called on the SPLM-IG party headed by President Salva Kiir, as well as the main opposition party SPLM-IO led by the First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar to de-escalate the ongoing conflict.  

“I am calling the political party in the government and the opposition party in the opposition to stop the worsening security situation happening in the country these days because we don’t want war to happen in South Sudan,” Joseph called.

Philemon Lopiata, the Deputy Mayor for the Administration of Torit Municipal Council said the type of election South Sudan will undergo has not been determined yet due to the looming war in the country.

“What type of election do you want, what proof that it will be democratic, what will make that election to be free and fair and yet your country is having a crisis, is it an election that we are preparing, or if we have to prepare for raiding?

He urged all citizens to be ready for the election once the situation becomes conducive