As South Sudan inches towards its historic first national election in December 2026, Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) is urging political leaders and electoral bodies to prioritize the inclusion and representation of persons with disabilities in the democratic process.
In a statement, Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of CEPO, stressed the importance of ensuring that all citizens, regardless of their abilities, can participate in the upcoming elections.
“I would like to take this opportunity to bring to the attention of every South Sudanese who holds the power to shape this electoral season,” Yakani said. “We must ensure, in our various capacities, that persons with disabilities are meaningfully represented and allowed to participate fully in the electoral process.”
To turn this call into concrete action, Yakani said CEPO will collaborate directly with the National Elections Commission (NEC) to establish a dedicated disability inclusion desk to make sure that persons with disabilities are not left behind.
This approach, he said, aims to translate the vision of inclusion into tangible reality, ensuring that every step of the election process, from voter education materials to polling station access, is designed with diverse needs in mind.
“As a civil society organization and as an activist, we are committed to translating this vision into reality,” he said. “Together with our government, CEPO will approach the leadership of the National Election Commission to establish a disability inclusion desk, one that will be driven by persons with disabilities themselves. Nobody should speak for them. Nobody should represent them. They will lead their own advocacy and participation.”
Yakani, however, commended the NEC for its proactive position, noting that the commission’s leadership has already shown a promising commitment to making the electoral process more inclusive.
This existing goodwill, he hopes, will pave the way for successful creation of the proposed desk
The proposed disability inclusion desk will align with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which South Sudan ratified in 2016.
By ratifying the convention, the country has legally committed itself to guaranteeing the protection and promotion of rights of persons with disability, including their right to participate in political and public life.
The December 2026 elections will mark the first national vote since South Sudan gained independence in 2011, making it a key moment for the country’s transition to democratic governance.
