Caretaker Governor Augustino Jadalla (Sited) pose for group photo with the caretaker county commissioners, caretaker Mayor and deouties alongside the caretaker of Wonduruba Administrative Payam on 2nd of October, 2026. Photo Credit: Emmanuel Kayanga

By Emmanuel Kayanga | Juba | 03rd – Oct – 2026

The Caretaker Governor of Central Equatoria State, Gen. Augustino Jadalla Kamilo Wani, has called on newly sworn-in County Commissioners and the leadership of Juba City Council to spearhead preparations for peaceful and credible elections.

Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony of six Caretaker County Commissioners, the Mayor of Juba City Council, three Deputy Mayors, and the Coordinator of Wonduruba Administrative Payam at the State Secretariat, Governor Jadalla said the appointments come at a critical time as the country is heading toward general elections in December.

“First, I want you to prepare our people for peaceful and credible election and One of your principal responsibilities is to prepare your respective counties and Juba City Council for the forthcoming electoral processes,” he said.

The Governor directed the new leaders to work closely with state electoral institutions and stakeholders to ensure citizens are informed and prepared. He emphasized that their offices must remain open and impartial.

“Your office should remain open and impartial to all political parties, candidates, and citizens… Support civic and voter education. Encourage peaceful participation. Prevent violence, hate speech, and political provocation,” he said.

While addressing on security concerns, Caretaker Governor Jadalla emphasised that it is a collective responsibility of both government and people. He encouraged the state officials to work closely with local authorities, chiefs, youth, and women alongside security forces to maintain security.

“Security should remain among your highest priorities. Work closely with the security organs, traditional authorities, and communities to identify and address security concerns before they escalate,” he said, while adding that security operations must respect the rights and dignity of citizens and remain within the law.

The Caretaker Governor also noted that Central Equatoria is diverse and Juba is a hotspot of national politics and directed State officials to remain neutral and not align themselves with tribal lines.

“Central Equatoria State is home to diverse communities, background and political views… This diversity should remain a source of strength rather than division. You are leaders for all citizens and should govern without discrimination based on tribe, political affiliation, religion, family connection or personal interest.”

Also Jadalla specifically tasked the Mayor and deputies to keep Juba safe, clean and orderly, saying Juba reflects the image of South Sudan.

“Juba requires immediate attention… as the capital of Central Equatoria and the national capital, its condition reflects the image of South Sudan,” he said.

For his part, the Caretaker Commissioner of Juba County, Kalisto Lado, thanked President Salva Kiir Mayardit and Governor Jadalla for the appointment, describing it as an honor to organize and prepare the people for elections.

“And indeed, it is an honor to carry this noble task of going down to the ground to organize and prepare our people for a very important task, a constitutional task of elections. We are going there to neutrally carry our task of preparing the masses to exercise their constitutional duty of choosing their own leaders,” Lado said.

Lado said provision of security and stability is paramount as the country heads for elections.

“Because without security and stability, then this noble mission of elections will not be witnessed. We will work in coordination with our governor and under his guidance and supervision and direction, I’m sure failure is not our fate.”

Meanwhile, the Caretaker Mayor of Juba City Council, Christopher Swaka, echoed the commitment to neutrality and thanked the Governor for the trust and confidence bestowed upon them.

“We are very fully aware and cognizant of the responsibility of being a caretaker as we are going towards an election, an election that is so much needed, an election that South Sudanese have cried and yearned for,” Swaka said.

Mayor Swaka said Juba stands at a distinct location as the mirror of the country and that every day of their caretaker period matters.

He outlined three priorities for the City Council:

“The three priorities that we have is number one, to keep Juba beautiful. And for us to keep this city beautiful, number one, it must be clean, green, and it must be habitable,” he said.

He said the Council has been pursuing a reform agenda for the last seven months to ensure stewardship, accountability and transparency, and will present it to the Governor in the coming days.

The swearing-in of the caretaker administrators is seen as a key step in strengthening local governance as Central Equatoria State prepares for the forthcoming national elections.