President Kiir backs new date set for 2026 general elections
Meanwhile, the President directed the Ministry of Finance to disburse cash for the election process, and for polls body to be supported to deliver a transparent and democratic exercise
By William Madouk
President Salva Kiir has approved the upcoming general elections to be conducted in December 26, 2026.
According to presidential press unit, the head of state and the Chairperson of the National Election Commission, Prof. Abednego Akok Kachuol agreed that the poll should take place as planned.
“President Salva Kiir Mayardit and the Chairperson of the National Election Commission (NEC), Prof. Abednego Akok, have reiterated that general elections will be conducted on 26 December 2026, as per earlier agreements by political parties,” the PPU statement partly read.
The President directed the Ministry of Finance to disburse cash for the election process, Prof. Akok told the media.
He also stated that security agencies have been directed to support the Commission in ensuring a secure and transparent democratic exercise.
Prof. Akok added that a meeting with the primary stakeholders will be held soon to review the latest initiatives aimed at speeding up the electoral process.
“He urged the people of South Sudan to prepare for the upcoming elections, which will mark the conclusion of the transitional period,” PPU quoted Akok saying.
So far, the Electoral Commission currently operates fully equipped offices in six states, with development underway in the remaining states.
In September 2024, South Sudan’s government announced postponement of long-delayed general elections until December 2026, citing lack of preparedness.
It was the second time the country, which gained independence in 2011, was extending its transitional leadership.
The government said it needed more time to complete processes such as conducting a census, drafting of the permanent constitution and the registration of political parties before an election could be held, according to the former presidential adviser on national security, Tut Gatluak.
Civil society activist such as Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), urged political leaders to change their attitudes and promote trust and confidence in working together toward a successful political transition.
Mr. Yakani also pointed out that a two-year extension will not provide enough time for the permanent constitution-making process or conduct a population census.
“Therefore, urgent political decisions are required to either separate elections from constitutional making and population census or to consider practical options, such as using the 2010 election constituencies,” he advised.
Commenting on the postponement of the elections last year, the UN Special Representative for South Sudan, Nicholas Haysom told the Security Council in November 2024 that it would not be ‘business as usual’ in the country following the move.
“This was inevitable but a regrettable development given the deep frustration and fatigue felt by the South Sudanese people at the apparent political paralysis and inaction of their leaders to implement the peace agreement and deliver the long awaited democratic transition,” Haysom said.
“UNMISS has been clear. The clock on South Sudan’s fourth extension has started ticking. It doesn’t reset in February next year when the extended transition begins, it begins now. Otherwise, we could find ourselves in the same predicament in December 2026,” he warned.
“This cannot be business as usual for the parties to the peace agreement, the political elite, the guarantors of the peace agreement, or the international community. We must take this opportunity to make this extension the last and deliver the peace and democracy that the people of South Sudan deserve.”
Election benchmarks
To facilitate the process, the UN Mission identified six achievable benchmarks which the parties could address. These include deployment of the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF), civic education, preparatory work for voter registration, and developing a code of conduct between political parties, civil society and the media.
