Top officials says office of the President relied entirely on the accuracy and currency of the names submitted during the official consultation phase

By Chuol Chanyong

The Office of the President has expressed regret over the appointment of a signatory to the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement who was later discovered to have passed away prior to the appointment.

It acknowledged shortcomings in the verification process used to confirm the status of nominees submitted by political parties and peace agreement signatories

The office clarified the circumstances surrounding the appointment of late. Steward Soro Bodia as a member of the Leadership Body of the Signatories to the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) and stakeholders for dialogue on election-related issues.

His appointment was made through a presidential decree issued last Friday.

The statement read “The Office of the President regrets to inform the public that one of the signatories to the Revitalized Peace Agreement (R-ARCSS), Mr. Steward Soro Bodia—whose name was nominated for inclusion as a member of the Leadership Body of the Agreement’s signatories and stakeholders for dialogue on electoral issues under a presidential order dated 30 January 2026—has since passed away.”

“This decision followed extensive consultations during which names were submitted by various stakeholders to ensure a representative selection process. The Office of the President relied entirely on the accuracy and currency of the names submitted during the official consultation phase. However, it was later established that one of the stakeholders failed to conduct adequate verification, resulting in this regrettable administrative error,” the statement noted.

It further added that the Office of the President is currently taking the necessary steps to rectify the appointment and is awaiting the submission of an alternative nominee from the concerned party to replace the deceased.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the family of the late Mr. Bodia. Going forward, the office will implement more stringent verification protocols to ensure that all nominations meet the highest standards of accuracy.”

Last Friday, President Salva Kiir issued a presidential order establishing a broadly representative leadership body to conduct a national dialogue on issues related to elections.

The committee comprises representatives from the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), National Agenda parties, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–in Opposition (SPLM-IO) under Stephen Par Kuol, the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA), Other Political Parties (OPP), Former Detainees (FDs), as well as prominent national figures and stakeholders. The appointment included the late Steward Soro Bodia, who is reported to have passed away more than four years ago.

The presidential order allows for the inclusion of any political party or non-signatory group to the Revitalized Peace Agreement, provided it confirms its participation in the dialogue.

The committee is expected to complete its mandate within 45 days and submit its final report to the Presidency.

Meanwhile, as the details unfolded, a representative of the family of the deceased politician has written to the office of the President demanding for cultural and moral reparations following the appointment.

“The appointment of a deceased person is not only an administrative error but also a serious cultural and spiritual violation. In our culture, it is unacceptable to invoke or ‘awaken’ the soul and spirit of the deceased without the knowledge, consent or involvement of the family,” said part of the letter.

James Boboya Edimond, a family representative, while reading a statement on behalf of the family, said the incident had left the family and the wider community dismayed, emotionally affected and spiritually disturbed.

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“We extend our deepest condolences to the family of the late Mr. Bodia. Going forward, the office will implement more stringent verification protocols to ensure that all nominations meet the highest standards of accuracy.”-Office of the President.