JUBA — South Sudan will hold its historic, long-delayed first post-independence general election on December 22, 2026, the head of the National Elections Commission (NEC) announced on Monday, despite severe funding shortages, legal gaps, and deepening political turmoil.
The announcement comes after the revitalized transitional government of national unity extended the country’s transitional period by another two years, pushing the timeline from December 2024 to 2026.
It marks the fifth postponement of a vote originally envisioned shortly after the nation gained independence from Sudan in 2011.
NEC Chairman Prof. Abednego Akok Kacuol, speaking to reporters at the NEC headquarters in Juba on Monday, stated that the date complies with Article 16 of the National Election Act, which mandates that a notice of election timing be published at least six months prior to the vote.
“The election will be conducted on December 22, 2026, as detailed in the National Election Commission Act,” Prof. Akok told reporters.
However, the electoral chief cast doubt on the commission’s immediate readiness, warning that significant operational and systemic roadblocks remain unresolved. Prof. Akok identified two primary crises threatening the electoral road map: a lack of legal clarity and missing financial resources.
“There are many challenges facing the Commission and we strongly request the Government to speed up amending the existing legal gaps and to provide all basic needs within a short period to enable us to proceed with our duties,” Akok said.
Insiders note the commission is still waiting for the transitional parliament to pass critical constitutional amendments and to unlock the remainder of the funds needed to establish polling centers, train staff, and compile voter rolls.
The path to the ballot box is further clouded by deteriorating security conditions across the country and a widening fracture within the transitional unity government.
While Juba insists it is ready to transition to a permanent democracy, active armed conflict continues to plague vital regions. Clashes involving the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), the armed opposition (SPLA-IO), the National Salvation Front (NAS), and ethnic militias have flared up in Upper Nile, Unity, and Jonglei states.
The United Nations estimates that the resulting violence has displaced hundreds of thousands of people, crippling the feasibility of nationwide voter registration.
Compounding the crisis is the near-collapse of the 2018 peace agreement’s political framework following a severe crackdown on dissent.
SPLM-IO leader and First Vice President Riek Machar remains under effective house arrest, and the government has initiated treason and conspiracy charges against him and several allies over militia violence.
Human rights groups and civil society coalitions have raised alarms over the narrowing civic space. South Sudan’s National Security Service (NSS) continues to utilize contested legal powers to arbitrarily detain youth leaders, activists, and journalists who voice criticism of the ruling party.
Despite the gridlock, Prof. Akok concluded his declaration with an appeal to the public’s sense of democratic ownership.
“The public is to be informed that sovereignty is to vote during the election as the only way of getting into power,” he said, calling on local media to widely disseminate the newly established December timeline.
