At the start of a three-day Political Parties’ Forum* in Aweil, a facilitator calls for four volunteers.

A quartet of the approximately 80 participants, representing 18 parties, seven civil society organizations and different security sector organs, come to the fore.

“Now, please hold on to one leg each of this chair,” says Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization, as he lifts it a meter above the ground. On its seat, he places a piece of paper that says “NBGS”, the acronym for Northern Bahr El Ghazal State.

“These four are the core parties of the government of this state,” he says with a nod at the four holders of the airborne chair, “and this chair is the revitalized peace agreement, the one we are expected to implement together, in a spirit of unity,” he adds.

Suddenly, Mr. Yakani asks two of his volunteers/political parties to let go of the legs they are holding. The chair tips alarmingly, almost falling back on the floor.

The visual demonstration is clear enough for the hitherto intrigued audience to understand: The implementation of the peace agreement and its many stipulations, including the one on creating a conducive environment for political debate and national elections, when there is no harmony and cooperation among its signatories.

In an instance, those attending the forum, named “Towards an open civic and political space in South Sudan”, have become acutely aware of what is at stake, namely the future of their country as a peaceful, democratic nation.

“Civic and political space are new concepts to some of us, because we used to have a one-party system which has now turned into a multiparty one. When things are new, people will not always understand them,” admits Abuor Gordon Nhial, her state’s Minister of Peacebuilding, who remains optimistic.

“Political parties in the state are becoming more self-confident and have some space to conduct their meetings in a correct way,” she observes.

With South Sudan’s first post-independence polls recently having been delayed and now scheduled for December 2026, politicians, civil society organizations and other stakeholders are making the most of the time at their disposal to enable civic and political dialogue and debate.