The proposals were presented to President Salva Kiir on Wednesday by NEC Chairperson Prof. Abednego Akok Kacuol during a briefing on the country’s electoral preparedness.
According to the commission, unresolved territorial disputes remain one of the biggest obstacles to conducting peaceful, credible and inclusive elections, prompting calls for urgent political decisions before voter registration begins.
“These issues require urgent political decisions before the conduct of the elections. The only way forward is to provide each of these areas with a solution that best addresses their respective political interests,” Prof. Akok said.
Among the key proposals is the separation of the current Abyei and Twic Constituency No. 1 into two distinct constituencies. Under the plan, Abyei would become a standalone constituency, while areas of Twic previously grouped under the shared constituency would be reassigned to Twic Constituency No. 2.
The commission also proposed a temporary arrangement for Abiemnom and Mayom, under which the two areas would share a single constituency during the upcoming elections. After the polls, areas of Mayom currently grouped with Abiemnom would revert to the Mayom constituency, while Abiemnom would become an independent constituency through subsequent political and constitutional processes.
According to the NEC, the proposed adjustments are temporary administrative measures designed to facilitate elections in politically sensitive areas affected by administrative and territorial disputes.
The commission indicated that permanent solutions would be considered after the elections through the appropriate constitutional and political mechanisms.
In addition to constituency matters, Prof. Akok briefed President Kiir on the commission’s overall preparations for the 22 December 2026 general elections, including progress on the electoral timetable.
“We also discussed the electoral timeline, and I am pleased that we reached a good resolution, which will be announced to the public within the next two to three days,” he said.
Prof. Akok also informed the President that the NEC had acquired new office premises and requested Kiir to officially inaugurate the facility as the commission enters the next phase of election preparations.
“We now have a new office, and we look forward to the leadership inaugurating it so that it begins its work with a strong image before the nation,” he added.
President Kiir welcomed the progress made by the commission and encouraged its leadership to continue preparing for the elections with professionalism, transparency and impartiality.
The meeting comes as South Sudan accelerates preparations for its first post-independence general elections under the revitalized peace agreement, despite concerns from regional and international communities over the amendments to the agreement.
This week, the diplomatic community, led by the United States, reiterated that the peace agreement remains the basis for South Sudan’s government transition, warning that any changes to the document must be underpinned by consensus from all political parties, including the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) under the leadership of detained First Vice President Riek Machar.
