President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Thursday chaired a high-stakes emergency Cabinet meeting as mounting pressure over unpaid salaries, growing arrears, and looming political deadlines forced the government to confront some of the most sensitive issues facing the country.
The extraordinary session placed the salary crisis affecting civil servants and security forces at the center of deliberations, alongside controversial proposed amendments to the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement (R-ARCSS) changes seen as critical to unlocking the long-delayed general elections slated for December 2026.
Government Spokesperson Ateny Wek Ateny told reporters that Cabinet ministers tabled far-reaching policy proposals aimed at stabilizing government operations and rescuing collapsing service delivery amid severe economic strain.
Justice Minister Michael Makuei Lueth briefed the meeting on planned amendments to key chapters of the peace deal, confirming that the proposals will be sent to Parliament for debate and ratification.
Officials say the revisions are designed to break political deadlocks and clear the path toward elections, a process that has repeatedly been delayed since the signing of the peace agreement.
As public frustration over unpaid wages continues to rise, Cabinet Affairs Minister Martin Elia Lomuro proposed the creation of a binding mechanism to guarantee the regular payment of salaries and accumulated arrears owed to civil servants and members of the armed forces.
The meeting took a dramatic political turn when Agriculture and Food Security Minister Hussein Abdelbagi Akol announced he had relinquished his title as Commander-in-Chief of SSOA forces, calling for the immediate integration of his fighters into the SSPDF.
The move signals a major realignment within the fragile security landscape.In a further twist, Abdelbagi disclosed plans to launch a new political party, a declaration that adds fresh momentum and uncertainty to an already volatile pre-election environment.
The Cabinet meeting highlighted the intensifying pressure on President Kiir’s administration as it struggles to balance economic collapse, peace implementation, and growing demands for political transition ahead of the 2026 polls.
