NAS leaders highlight vision, unity and recent gains in global briefing

Senior leaders of the National Salvation Front (NAS) outlined the movement’s political vision, organisational priorities and recent military developments during a global virtual briefing attended by hundreds of members from across the world.

The Zoom meeting, organised by the NAS Salvation Council and held as part of a new series of leadership briefings, brought together NAS officials, members and invited participants at a time of heightened political and security uncertainty in South Sudan.

Opening the session, Compatriot Rosemary Merkaje, Speaker of the NAS Salvation Council (NSC), said the Council is now fully operational and focused on strengthening unity and institutional cooperation within the movement.

The success of NAS depends on our collective collaboration

“The success of NAS depends on our collective collaboration,” Merkaje said, adding that the Salvation Council is now “open for business.” She described the meeting as the first of many, aimed at encouraging structured debate, cooperation and policy development across NAS bodies and commissions.

Merkaje called on members to volunteer their professional expertise and actively engage in the work of the Council’s sub-commissions, stressing the importance of developing policies and programmes relevant both to the movement and to South Sudan as a whole.

A highly charged address by Compatriot Nasike Allan, NAS Secretary General, set out the plans and programmes of the NAS Secretariat. Her remarks pointed to a renewed emphasis on coordination, service delivery and sustained engagement with members across different commissions, regions and branches.

On governance, Compatriot Dr. Paul Bilal, Deputy Commission General of the NAS Federal Authority, presented the NAS Federal Civil Authority as a viable model for stabilising South Sudan. He said the underlying causes of the first liberation war before independence remain unresolved and continue to shape current realities.

For that reason, Bilal said, NAS is advancing what it describes as a second liberation—one that requires discipline, commitment and genuine sacrifice from its members.

Issues affecting women and youth featured prominently in the discussions. Compatriot Flaviana Sindani spoke on behalf of South Sudan’s suffering population, particularly women, highlighting their longstanding and often overlooked contributions to the country’s liberation struggles.

Youth representative Compatriot Alex Mogga, head of the NAS youth office in Egypt, described young people as the backbone of any national struggle. He urged the leadership to expand youth programmes, invest in training and create more opportunities for young members to participate in decision-making, calling such efforts an investment in the movement’s future leadership.

Providing a military update, Compatriot Gen. Kamilo Otwari, Chief of General Staff, outlined recent operational achievements, including advances in Eastern Equatoria and joint operations with SPLM-IO. He detailed the strategic and technical planning behind the operations and praised NAS global offices for their continued support despite operating under difficult conditions.

The NAS Deputy Chairman and the Chairman also addressed the briefing, offering political and strategic perspectives. Their remarks will be covered separately in greater detail.

Throughout the meeting, the overall sentiment among participants was one of optimism and renewed resolve. Members used the comment sections and live interjections to praise the clarity of the briefings, the emphasis on collective leadership, and the opportunity to engage directly with senior figures. Organisers noted strong participation and sustained engagement throughout the session.

Organisers said the strong turnout and active interaction reflected growing confidence in the movement’s direction and reinforced NAS’s emphasis on unity, discipline and coordinated action as developments continue to unfold in South Sudan.