Bol Mel Tears Apart 2018 Peace Agreement, Calls for Armed Political Parties to Be Barred from 2026 Elections

JUBA – South Sudan’s Vice President and Economic Cluster Chairperson, Benjamin Bol Mel, has fiercely criticized the 2018 Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan, which legitimized the presence of armed opposition groups under a unified framework for peace and power sharing.

Now, Bol is calling for a sweeping policy shift: the exclusion of all political parties with military wings from participating in the country’s long-awaited 2026 elections.

Speaking shortly after being sworn in as First Deputy Chairman of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), Bol issued a stern warning to rival parties still maintaining private armies.

He insisted that for South Sudan to realize stability and democratic progress, a single, unified national army under the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) must be respected as the country’s sole legitimate military body.

“For South Sudan to reach its full potential, we must uphold peace, unity, and security. There can be no compromise,” said Bol. “The SPLM has no military wing, and we trust only the SSPDF to safeguard the nation. I urge every political party to do the same—disband all armed factions immediately.”

Bol emphasized that the SPLM had voluntarily dismantled its former armed wing, the SPLA, to facilitate national unity, and he expects all other parties to follow suit.

He stressed that political organizations should not be led by figures acting as “self-declared commanders-in-chief” nor be allowed to command militias outside state control.

“This kind of militarized politics undermines democracy and threatens national sovereignty. No political party has the right to operate as an armed group,” he said. “Those acting outside the law must be held accountable. This practice is not only unlawful—it’s dangerous and must stop.”

Bol’s remarks appeared to indirectly target the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), headed by the currently detained First Vice President Riek Machar.

The SPLM-IO’s military wing, the SPLA-IO, has frequently engaged in violent confrontations with the SSPDF amid ongoing political tensions.

In a more forceful tone, Bol called for armed groups to be disqualified from participating in peace dialogues, political reforms, or the upcoming elections unless they disarm and submit to state authority.

He argued that continuing to allow parties with parallel armies undermines both the constitution and the peace agreement itself.

“With elections set for 2026 and no further extensions allowed, we must ensure that only lawful and peaceful actors are part of the democratic process,” he asserted. “Any party still wielding arms has no place in our elections or peace initiatives.”

South Sudan, which gained independence in 2011, has twice delayed national elections, citing unresolved provisions in the peace agreement and logistical challenges.

The 2026 polls are seen as a crucial milestone in the country’s transition from conflict to democracy.

While Bol refrained from naming any specific groups in his speech, his pointed comments leave little doubt about the SPLM-IO being the likely target.

So far, there has been no formal response from opposition factions to the Vice President’s strong condemnation of armed politics.

Bol, a businessman-turned-politician who rose to national prominence in 2025, remains under U.S. sanctions imposed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), adding a layer of international scrutiny to his political role.