The Uniting of South Sudan opposition groups is the only hope for South Sudan!

By Jwothab Othow

August 17, 2025

The only hope for South Sudan to escape this tribal and kleptocracy regime, which has inflicted unimaginable suffering on its people, lies in the opposition groups uniting. The recent joint operations by the National Salvation Front (NAS) and SPLA-IO against the SSPDF in Central Equatoria are a positive step. This is encouraging news, and as citizens, we urge the remaining South Sudanese opposition groups abroad to join forces with their compatriots. The unification of South Sudan’s opposition groups is long overdue, and the citizens of South Sudan have been waiting for far too long. We have been calling on South Sudan opposition groups to unite, because a divided opposition only strengthens Kiir’s regime, and unity is needed to remove it from power. Together, they can liberate our nation from the kleptocracy regime and the ruling elite in Juba, who are driven by greed for power and wealth and seek to destroy our country. These corrupt leaders are even willing to sell our country to foreign actors who care nothing for our people’s suffering, only for the exploitation of our resources.

South Sudanese citizens are urging opposition groups abroad to unite and liberate the country from President Kiir’s kleptocracy and tribalistic regime. It’s critical that these groups form a coalition to achieve a decisive victory. They must prioritize unity and set aside leadership disputes, as the South Sudanese people will determine their future leader democratically. The immediate goal is to unite and save the nation from collapse. President Kiir and his allies, facing nothing to lose, might even compromise the country’s sovereignty to maintain power while the people suffer. Unity will strengthen the opposition’s military capabilities, enabling them to confront and overthrow the authoritarian regime in Juba, which has consistently failed to implement peace agreements.

Now, with Kiir’s regime weakened and facing numerous challenges, is the opportune moment for the opposition to coordinate a successful military offensive and secure the country’s future. The opposition has a moral obligation to unite and end the two decades of the SPLM Party’s misrule, which led to the 2013 conflict, claiming over 480,000 lives because of power struggles and greed. The South Sudanese opposition must unite to overthrow Juba’s corrupt regime and prevent our nation’s collapse and potential disintegration. The current regime, incredibly, has allowed external interference, including from Uganda and other actors, to stay in power, while these foreign entities exploit our resources. As South Sudanese citizens, we will hold President Kiir’s leadership accountable for its atrocities.

We demand justice and accountability for the past, crucial for healing, reconciliation, and overcoming the deep divisions created by Kiir’s decades-long corrupt rule. With a unified opposition and a clear vision for a post-Kiir South Sudan, the people will undoubtedly support them as a force for change. Opposition groups need to unite with a clear vision for the country’s future to successfully remove Kiir’s regime and end the suffering. Should the opposition unite under common objectives; South Sudanese citizens will probably support them. After Kiir’s regime is ousted, free and fair democratic elections would enable the people of South Sudan to select a new leader and usher in a new era. May God bless South Sudan. The writer is a South Sudanese activist and a critic of the country’s authoritarian regime.

Jwothab Othow