OPINION: South Sudan needs leaders who listen, serve and deliver

As the SPLM conducts its primaries ahead of the December 2026 General Elections, I believe we need to have an honest conversation about leadership and what we expect from those seeking public office.

Across South Sudan’s ten states and three administrative areas, many people are looking for leaders who can make a difference in their daily lives.

They want roads that connect communities, hospitals that provide care, schools where children can learn and clean water for their families. They also want leaders who listen when they raise concerns and take responsibility when things go wrong.

This is not too much to ask. It is what leadership should be about.

Those seeking to become governors or chief administrators must understand that public office is not a reward or a personal achievement. It comes with the responsibility to serve the people.

Winning a party nomination or an election should not be the end goal. It should be the beginning of a duty to deliver on the promises made to citizens.

I believe we must move away from the usual mama mboga style of leadership, where politics is often reduced to personal connections, promises and the pursuit of positions. Our people deserve more than that.

People want services, not just promises

During campaigns, candidates often speak about development, peace, roads, education and better healthcare. But the real question is what happens after they take office.

Can they improve the condition of hospitals? Can they make sure children have access to schools? Can they address the lack of clean water and poor roads? Can they create opportunities for young people and support farmers and traders?

These are the issues that should be at the centre of political discussions, not just who has the strongest political connections or the largest following.

A leader does not have to solve every problem overnight, but people should see effort, direction and progress. They should know what their government is doing and what it plans to do next.

A good leader must listen

Leadership is not only about giving instructions from an office. It is also about listening to the people.

A governor should be able to meet ordinary citizens, hear their concerns and take their views seriously. Farmers, teachers, health workers, traders, women, young people and traditional leaders all understand the challenges facing their communities. Their voices should not be ignored.

Too often, leaders become difficult to reach once they assume office. They surround themselves with advisers and political allies and gradually lose touch with the people they are supposed to serve.

That should change. A leader must remain accessible, listen even to criticism and be willing to make decisions that respond to the needs of the community.

Taking responsibility matters

We also need leaders who are ready to take responsibility for their work. When government institutions fail to deliver, a leader should not always blame others. They should ask what went wrong and what can be done to improve the situation.

Governors and chief administrators must provide direction to their institutions, monitor performance and make sure public resources are used for the benefit of citizens.

People have a right to know how public money is spent and what has been achieved with it. Accountability should not be treated as an attack on leadership. It is part of the responsibility that comes with holding public office.

A leader who accepts mistakes, corrects them and works to improve government performance earns the confidence of the people.

The choice goes beyond party loyalty

As the SPLM conducts its primaries, party members have an opportunity to look carefully at the people seeking its nomination. Political loyalty and personal relationships should not be the only considerations.

Candidates should be assessed on their understanding of the challenges facing their states and administrative areas, their leadership experience, their plans for service delivery and their willingness to be accountable.

This responsibility does not end with the SPLM. As the country approaches the December elections, voters across all political parties should ask the same questions of those seeking their support.

We must look beyond campaign speeches and ask what each candidate has done, what they intend to do and how they plan to do it.

The people must set the standards

Ultimately, the people must decide what kind of leadership they want. They must set the standards, define the qualities they expect and decide who deserves their trust.

This applies in Central Equatoria and every other state and administrative area in South Sudan.

We cannot continue doing politics the same way and expect different results. Our country needs leaders who are close to the people, understand their problems, take their responsibilities seriously and work to improve their lives.

The measure of a leader should not be how powerful the officeholder becomes or how many people surround them. It should be whether communities are seeing improvements in their lives.

South Sudan needs leaders who listen, serve and deliver. That is the standard our people should demand, and it is the standard every candidate should be prepared to meet.