JUBA, South Sudan — 16 October 2026 The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) participated in the formation of a National Platform to Counter Hate Speech and Disinformation in South Sudan during a meeting held from 13–15 October 2026. The platform was established to strengthen coordination among relevant institutions through a defined structure, coordination arrangements, and terms of reference (ToR). It brings together government institutions, civil society organizations (CSOs), academia, media organizations, fact-checkers, and the South Sudan Council of Churches to monitor, document, and report hate speech and disinformation, particularly on online platforms.
The meeting was organized by the Conflict Early Warning and Response Mechanism for IGAD Member States (IGAD-CEWARN), with support from the Office of the United Nations Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa (UNSEHoA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The initiative comes at a critical time as South Sudan prepares for its first national elections following repeated delays. The country continues to face a fragile political and security environment characterized by ongoing legal proceedings involving a prominent opposition figure, recurrent local conflicts, restrictions on civic space, and localized violence.
Hate speech and disinformation in South Sudan are influenced by several factors, including ethnic identity, political affiliations, historical grievances, revenge narratives, and local conflict dynamics. As political and civic engagement increasingly moves to digital platforms, social media can become a channel for spreading harmful narratives, mobilizing political support, and influencing public perceptions of the electoral process.
The national platform aims to strengthen national and local capacities to prevent and respond to hate speech and disinformation through coordinated, multi-agency collaboration. Its broader objective is to protect democratic processes, promote social cohesion, and strengthen public trust.
CEPO Warns of Rising Hate Speech Ahead of Elections
Meanwhile, CEPO Executive Director Edmund Yakani has warned of an increase in hate speech, hostile propaganda, and disinformation as South Sudan approaches its anticipated electoral period. Speaking in an interview with City Review newspaper, Yakani said CEPO’s Early Warning System had been monitoring online platforms, including Facebook and WhatsApp, and had observed an increase in inflammatory and harmful engagements.
In a recorded statement released on Monday, 12 October, Yakani cautioned that the growing political activity, including political party primaries and candidates declaring their interest in various electoral positions, could contribute to heightened tensions. “We have seen already emerging negative culture associated with this electoral process. There is already indication of a rise in hate speech, hate sentiments, hostile propaganda, and defamation,” Yakani said.
He emphasized that the monitoring system was intended to alert South Sudanese citizens, both inside the country and in the diaspora, to the potential dangers of spreading harmful content online.
Yakani called on political candidates, campaign managers, political parties, and voters to exercise responsibility in their public communications and avoid spreading hate speech, inflammatory messages, misinformation, disinformation, and defamatory content.
He also urged state authorities to take proactive measures to counter hate speech and fake news. In particular, he called on the National Elections Commission (NEC) to establish a dedicated unit to address hate speech and disinformation during the electoral process.
Yakani stressed that peaceful and non-violent elections require all stakeholders to reject divisive rhetoric and the deliberate spread of false information. He encouraged citizens to verify information before sharing it and to refrain from engaging in communications that could fuel hostility, deepen divisions, or undermine peaceful participation in the electoral process.
As South Sudan moves toward the anticipated elections, the establishment of the national platform and CEPO’s early warning efforts are intended to strengthen collective action against harmful information, support peaceful political engagement, and promote a more informed and responsible public discourse.
