South Sudan needs leaders who are not afraid to stand up for what is right, confront injustice and speak for ordinary citizens, even when doing so comes at a personal cost. After years of insecurity, corruption, land-grabbing, weak institutions and unfulfilled promises, the country urgently needs a style of leadership built on courage, conviction and a genuine commitment to public service. Kalisto Lado Faustino Nyigilo, the caretaker commissioner of Juba County, embodies these qualities. His public life reflects a determination to confront difficult issues, challenge practices that undermine people’s livelihoods, and put the concerns of ordinary citizens at the centre of public debate. At a time when South Sudan desperately needs courageous leadership, Kalisto stands out as an example of a leader willing to speak boldly and act decisively in the public interest.
What distinguishes bold leadership is the courage to confront problems that others would rather avoid. It means speaking openly about injustice, standing firm in the face of intimidation, and refusing to remain silent when people’s rights and livelihoods are threatened. For South Sudan, where land disputes, corruption and insecurity continue to affect communities, such leadership is not simply desirable; it is essential. Kalisto’s public career demonstrates the importance of confronting difficult questions directly and placing the interests of citizens at the heart of governance.
Kalisto’s experience in public administration began well before his current appointment. In March 2021, he became Mayor of Juba, taking responsibility for a capital city facing serious challenges in urban planning, sanitation, infrastructure and the management of public spaces. During his approximately eight-month tenure, his administration pursued efforts to reorganise the city, improve its appearance and address longstanding urban management problems. His time as mayor attracted considerable public attention, and his dismissal in November 2021 prompted petitions and calls from sections of the community for his reinstatement. These events reflected the strong public interest surrounding his leadership and his approach to the challenges facing the capital.
For Kalisto, public service has also meant being willing to address uncomfortable truths. One of the most significant episodes in his public life came in March 2024, when he was reportedly arrested after delivering a speech condemning land-grabbing practices and urging Equatorians to speak out against injustice. Security personnel reportedly took him from his home on 30 March. His family reported his arrest, while police indicated that he might have been in the custody of the National Security Service. The circumstances of his detention raised serious concerns about the treatment of people who speak publicly about land-related injustice.
His detention became a matter of concern for human rights organisations and those committed to the rule of law. Amnesty International called on the authorities to disclose his whereabouts and the reasons for his detention, and to release him unless a lawful basis for continued detention could be demonstrated. Human Rights Watch also raised concerns about his disappearance and the need for judicial safeguards. In August 2024, Vice President James Wani Igga publicly acknowledged that the government was holding Kalisto and said he faced criminal charges. Kalisto was released on 6 September 2024, after approximately five months in detention. Human Rights Watch subsequently reported that he had been held incommunicado and released without being presented in court.
This episode forms an important part of Kalisto’s public story because it highlights the personal cost that can accompany speaking out on issues affecting the public interest. His experience brought renewed attention to land governance, the protection of citizens’ rights, and the importance of due process. It also underscored a principle that South Sudan must embrace: people who raise concerns about injustice deserve lawful treatment, and public institutions must be accountable to the citizens they serve. Kalisto’s willingness to speak about land-related grievances has kept these concerns firmly within the national conversation.
Land is among the most sensitive and consequential issues facing South Sudanese communities. It is not merely a source of economic value; it is connected to identity, family heritage, agriculture, housing, and the security of future generations. When land is taken unlawfully, or disputes are handled unfairly, families can lose their livelihoods, communities can become divided, and public confidence in institutions can erode. Addressing these challenges requires leaders who are prepared to speak openly, insist on fair procedures and ensure that the rights of ordinary citizens are not overshadowed by the influence of powerful individuals. Kalisto’s public stance on land-related injustice reflects the importance of placing these concerns at the centre of governance.
His return to public administration as Caretaker Commissioner of Juba County, following his swearing-in on 2 October 2026, offers an important opportunity to bring this bold leadership approach directly to the communities he serves. On 5 October, he visited the busy Kuburi Haboba access road in Gudele West and engaged business people on road access, organization, cleanliness and hygiene. He has also emphasized unity, peaceful coexistence and development, pledged to visit communities across the county, and promised to address the destruction of farmers’ crops by cattle.
These priorities speak directly to the daily realities of ordinary people. For a farmer, the destruction of crops can mean losing months of hard work and the food or income needed to support a family. For a small business owner, poor road access and an unclean trading environment can make it harder to earn a living. For families living in insecure neighbourhoods, peaceful coexistence and effective local administration are essential to their sense of safety. Leadership becomes meaningful when it recognises these struggles and responds with practical action. Kalisto’s focus on community engagement, agricultural protection, sanitation and local development reflects an understanding that government must be felt in people’s everyday lives.
His commitment to addressing corruption and the misuse of public resources is equally important. Corruption deprives communities of services, weakens public institutions and undermines citizens’ confidence in government. A bold approach to governance means confronting the practices that divert public resources away from their intended purpose and ensuring that public money serves the common good. Transparent revenue collection, accountable financial management, fair procurement, and responsible administration are essential to ensuring that resources reach the communities that need them. South Sudan needs leaders prepared to place public interest above personal or political advantage, and Kalisto’s stated commitment to tackling corruption speaks to that national need.
Kalisto has also proposed using revenue from locally available natural resources, including gold, sand and murram, to support development across Juba County’s payams and bomas. The proposal reflects an ambition to connect local resources with the needs of local communities. Properly managed, such resources could contribute to road construction, sanitation, agricultural support, and other essential services. For communities that have long waited for improvements in their living conditions, the prospect of locally generated revenue supporting local development is significant. Transparent management and fair distribution would help ensure that the benefits reach residents across the county and contribute to lasting improvements in their lives.
The challenges facing Juba County are considerable, but they are also closely connected to the broader question of leadership in South Sudan. Insecurity, communal tensions, land disputes and cattle-related destruction of crops require firm, fair and accessible administration. These problems cannot be resolved by government declarations alone. They require leaders who listen to residents, engage communities, respond to grievances and work with relevant authorities to find lasting solutions. Kalisto’s pledge to visit communities across the county creates an opportunity to bring government closer to the people and ensure that the concerns of residents beyond the county headquarters receive attention.
His caretaker position also provides an opportunity to demonstrate that bold leadership and fairness can go hand in hand. Every community deserves equal protection under the law, and every resident should be able to approach public institutions with confidence that their concerns will be heard. Political differences, social background, or personal influence should not determine who receives government attention. A strong public administrator serves the entire community, protects public resources, and applies the law fairly. These principles are essential to building trust between citizens and the institutions responsible for their welfare.
Kalisto’s leadership also speaks to a wider need in South Sudanese politics: the need to move beyond leadership defined by titles and promises towards leadership demonstrated through courage, service and action. Citizens want leaders who can speak honestly about difficult problems, defend their interests and respond to their concerns. They want roads that are accessible, markets that are clean, farms that are protected, neighbourhoods that are safe and public resources that support development. These are not unreasonable demands. They are the basic expectations of people who deserve a government that works for them.
No single commissioner can resolve every challenge facing South Sudan. Many problems require cooperation among county, state, and national authorities, as well as the active participation of communities. Yet strong local leadership can make a meaningful difference by showing citizens that public administration can be responsive, accessible and committed to results. Kalisto’s experience as Mayor of Juba, his public stance on land-related injustice, and his return to local administration place him in a position to contribute to that effort. His leadership offers an example of why courage and conviction matter when public institutions must confront longstanding problems.
South Sudan stands at a critical point in its search for better governance. The country needs leaders who are bold enough to confront corruption, fearless enough to speak against injustice, determined enough to protect ordinary citizens and committed enough to turn public promises into meaningful improvements. Kalisto Lado represents this kind of leadership. His public journey reflects the importance of standing firm on difficult issues and keeping the concerns of ordinary people at the centre of public life.
Ultimately, the importance of Kalisto’s leadership lies in the example it offers to a country hungry for courage, accountability and genuine public service. His challenge as Caretaker Commissioner is to bring that boldness to bear on the everyday problems affecting Juba County: protecting farmers, improving local infrastructure, strengthening community safety, promoting peaceful coexistence and ensuring that public resources contribute to development. These are the issues through which leadership becomes real in the lives of citizens.
South Sudan does not need leaders who retreat when problems become difficult. It needs leaders who confront those problems with courage, conviction, and a clear sense of responsibility to the people. Kalisto Lado’s bold and fearless leadership offers a compelling example of the qualities the country needs. At its best, such leadership gives ordinary citizens a voice, brings neglected problems into the open, and reminds those in public office that their ultimate responsibility is to serve the people. South Sudan needs more of that courage, more of that determination, and more leaders willing to put the public interest first.
The writer, Aldo Ben, is a South Sudanese political analyst and human rights advocate. He can be reached at: lokonyenaldo@hotmail.com.
The views expressed in ‘opinion’ articles published by Radio Tamazuj are solely those of the writer. The veracity of any claims made is the responsibility of the author, not Radio Tamazuj.
The post Opinion| South Sudan needs bold and fearless leadership: The Kalisto Lado example appeared first on Radio Tamazuj.