BENTIU—Seven election returning officers from Unity State have completed a two-day training-of-trainers exercise aimed at preparing electoral personnel for South Sudan’s anticipated December 2026 general elections.
The training, organized by the State High Elections Committee (SHEC), was held in Bentiu town and brought together returning officers selected from the state’s seven counties.
The exercise was designed to equip participants with the knowledge and practical skills needed to train election registrars and other electoral personnel in their respective counties.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Gatluak Meat Kot, a member of the Unity State High Elections Committee, said the training covered ten sessions, including seven guiding principles intended to promote professionalism, transparency and accountability in the conduct of electoral duties.
“The training covered ten sessions, including seven guiding principles that will guide election officials in carrying out their responsibilities professionally, transparently and accountably,” he said.
He said participants were also trained on 71 electoral forms and urged them to review their manuals and presentation materials, which would be shared to strengthen their understanding and coordination.
Chidong Beliew Kai, who represented Leer County, commended the committee and facilitators for organizing the training, saying it had improved participants’ understanding of their electoral responsibilities.
“The training has strengthened our understanding of our roles and responsibilities,” he said. “We are now better prepared to pass on the knowledge gained when training election registrars in our respective areas.”
He urged fellow participants to apply the knowledge acquired and work together to ensure effective implementation of electoral activities.
Election preparations
South Sudan is scheduled to hold general elections on December 22, 2026, which would be the country’s first general elections since independence in 2011.
However, preparations remain behind schedule, with the National Elections Commission (NEC) facing financial and administrative challenges.
Although the commission has begun distributing voter registration materials and equipment to state-level electoral committees, voter registration has not yet started.
The NEC has estimated that it needs about $250 million to conduct the elections, but only $27 million has so far been secured.
With about a month left to the December elections, it is not yet clear whether the NEC can finish necessary arrangements in time for the polls.
