There is no peace in any village; nothing but fire: Wani Igga calls for political stability

2026-03-13 - 11:27

JUBA, South Sudan (Eye Radio) – SPLM First Deputy Chairperson and Vice President, H.E. Dr James Wani Igga, told SPLM – CES delegates on Thursday that a “thirst for power” continues to destroy South Sudan and ruin its international reputation. Addressing delegates at the SPLM Central Equatoria State (CES) extended meeting in Juba on Thursday, March 13, Dr. Wani delivered a candid assessment of the nation’s journey since independence in 2011. He lamented that the peace expected after the liberation struggle had been interrupted by internal conflicts with “disastrous consequences.” He declared that the nation urgently requires political stability rather than the internal power struggles that have left “nothing but fire” in villages across the country. He challenged the party to look beyond the ballot box, asserting that true democracy demands transparency, strict accountability, and the active participation of all citizens. “I thought that all this was going to stop as soon as we got our independence,” Dr. Igga told the gathering. “But because we are so thirsty about power, we continue to destroy the country... until we are hated all over the world. There is no peace in any village; nothing but fire.” The Vice President also called for an end to impunity, urging state leaders to arrest and discipline corrupt officials to restore the rule of law ahead of the 2026 elections. As the party prepares for the 2026 general elections, Dr. Igga argued that the SPLM’s vision for democracy must extend beyond the simple exercise of casting a ballot. He maintained that “good governance” must be the heart of any development and is achieved only through transparency. “Our vision of democracy goes far beyond the exercise of the ballot,” he stated. “Responsible participation in the political and economic life of our nation is the duty and the right of all citizens of South Sudan.” The First Deputy Chairperson also issued a strong call for discipline within the party ranks. He pointed to recent national-level efforts to arrest and discipline those suspected of corruption as a model that must be followed by all states. “When we don’t punish people, those people become above the law,” Dr. Igga warned. “It is time that we punish people; otherwise, we are drowning in a total lack of transparency and lack of accountability.” The remarks served as a reminder to the state leadership and grassroots mobilizers that the upcoming 2026 elections represent a test of the party’s ability to move the country toward stability and away from the cycles of conflict that have defined the past decade.