Written by: Mohammed Omran

The head of the National Elections Commission confirmed in South SudanProfessor Abidinego Akok Kashwal said that preparations for the general elections scheduled for December 2026 are progressing remarkably, noting that the appointment of election commissioners has been completed in nine states, with Upper Nile State remaining to complete its appointments.

The head of the electoral commission: Progress has been made in preparations for the December elections, but security and funding challenges remain.

Kashwal explained that the electoral process will begin with voter registration, followed by candidate registration, then electoral awareness campaigns, leading up to election day.

He added that the commission will provide voter registration centers for displaced persons within protection sites, in addition to making registration available to refugees through South Sudanese embassies in neighboring countries, thus ensuring broader citizen participation.

He noted that security challenges and lack of funding remain major obstacles to the electoral process, despite the commission receiving $27 million to support a number of its activities.

The head of the commission stressed that any decision to postpone the elections would be a political decision, reiterating the commission’s commitment to the announced timetable, and calling on citizens to register and actively participate in the upcoming elections.

South Sudan's president orders strengthening preparations for December elections

The President of the Republic of South Sudan and the President Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), First Lieutenant General Salva Kiir Mayardit, the movement’s leaders in the states and administrative regions to intensify efforts to promote peace, consolidate security and create a favorable environment for holding the general elections scheduled for December 2026.

The president’s directives came on Friday during a meeting he held with the heads of the popular movement in the states and administrative regions, in the presence of the movement’s secretary-general, Dr. Akol Paul Kordit.

President Salva Kiir called on party leaders to work closely with local communities to maintain peace and promote national unity, and to support local authorities in providing a safe environment that ensures all citizens can participate freely and safely in the electoral process, thus contributing to the organization of peaceful and credible elections.

He stressed that consolidating stability and peace is a fundamental pillar for the success of the electoral process, emphasizing the importance of the movement’s leaders playing their role in strengthening social cohesion and supporting the state’s efforts during the next stage.

In another context, the South Sudanese government discussed ways to enhance support for its citizens residing in the Arab Republic of Egypt, in light of the humanitarian and economic challenges facing a segment of the community, especially those who were forced to go to Egypt due to the repercussions of the war in Sudan.

This came during a meeting between the South Sudanese Ambassador to Egypt, Kual Nyok Kual Arop, and the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Albino Akol Atak, where the two sides reviewed the situation of South Sudanese citizens residing in Egypt, and discussed mechanisms to enhance consular protection and develop the government’s response to their needs.

Ambassador Kual Nyok Kual Arop explained that the embassy is continuously monitoring issues affecting members of the community, noting that the most prominent challenges include cases of detention and deportation, difficulty in obtaining job opportunities, in addition to the humanitarian conditions faced by citizens who arrived in Egypt fleeing the ongoing conflict in Sudan.