South Sudan’s National Elections Commission (NEC) has officially announced that the country’s general elections will be held on 22 December 2026, marking a major step toward conducting the nation’s first elections since independence in 2011.
The announcement was made by NEC Chairperson Prof. Abednego Akok Kacuol during a media briefing in Juba on Monday, in line with legal requirements under the National Elections Act and the provisions of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
The declaration comes nearly two years after the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) extended the transitional period by an additional 24 months in September 2024, postponing elections originally scheduled for December 2024 to December 2026.
According to the NEC, the election date was determined in accordance with Article 16 of the National Elections Act 2012, as amended in 2023, which requires the commission to announce the date of an election at least six months before polling day.
The period between 22 June and 22 December 2026 satisfies that legal requirement.
“The election will be conducted on 22 December 2026,” Prof. Kacuol said in a statement issued by the commission.
The elections are expected to be held across the country’s 10 states and three administrative areas using the 102 geographical constituencies established during the 2010 elections.
The polls are widely viewed as a critical milestone in South Sudan’s peace process and democratic transition, providing citizens with an opportunity to elect leaders through a national vote for the first time since the country’s independence from Sudan.
However, significant challenges remain ahead of the vote.
The commission acknowledged that it continues to face logistical, legal and financial constraints that could affect preparations for the elections.
It called on the government and relevant institutions to urgently address existing legal gaps and provide the resources required for electoral activities in the remaining months before polling day.
“There are many challenges facing the Commission,” the NEC noted, urging authorities to expedite reforms and support the electoral body in carrying out its constitutional responsibilities.
Key pre-election activities, including voter registration, civic and voter education, constituency preparations and electoral logistics, are expected to begin in the coming months once the commission releases a detailed electoral timetable.
Political observers have welcomed the announcement as an important milestone but caution that the credibility of the elections will depend on adequate funding, security arrangements, and the full implementation of outstanding provisions of the 2018 peace agreement.
The announcement is likely to intensify political activity across the country as parties, candidates and civil society groups prepare for a vote that many hope will mark a new chapter in South Sudan’s democratic journey.
Further details, including voter registration schedules and electoral guidelines, are expected to be released by the National Elections Commission in the coming weeks.
