The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) has warned that South Sudan risks falling behind in its preparations for the December 22, 2026 general elections, citing funding shortages, insecurity and unresolved political disputes as major obstacles to a credible vote.
Speaking on behalf of the civil society organization, CEPO Executive Director Edmund Yakani said recent observations under the group’s pre-election domestic monitoring initiative indicate that the country’s electoral preparations remain inadequate, particularly ahead of the critical voter registration exercise.
Yakani described voter registration as one of the most expensive and logistically demanding phases of the electoral process, requiring the recruitment and deployment of officials across the country’s 204 constituencies.
He estimated that at least two voter registration officials would be needed for each constituency, in addition to transport, registration materials, allowances and other operational costs.
“Delays in releasing funds on time will seriously affect voter registration,” Yakani warned, adding that the process cannot succeed without sustained financial and political commitment.
Beyond funding, CEPO expressed concern over the country’s deteriorating security situation, saying ongoing violence in several parts of South Sudan could restrict the movement of election officials and prevent eligible voters from registering freely.
Yakani specifically cited recent insecurity in Tonj North, Tonj South and parts of Eastern Equatoria State, where communal violence has continued to claim lives, arguing that such instability presents a significant challenge to organizing peaceful and inclusive elections.
He also pointed to poor infrastructure, logistical constraints and unresolved legal questions surrounding the electoral framework as additional hurdles that require urgent attention before polling day.
CEPO urged the government to demonstrate stronger political leadership and accelerate preparations if it is to meet its commitment to hold elections on December 22, 2026.
The organization further appealed to South Sudan’s political leaders to fully implement the resolutions of the African Union Committee of Five (AU C5), describing the initiative as the most viable pathway for resolving the current political stalemate through inclusive dialogue.
Yakani said meaningful engagement among all political parties and stakeholders is essential to building national consensus and ensuring that elections become a vehicle for a peaceful transition rather than a source of renewed conflict.
He also called on the AU C5, chaired by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, to intensify diplomatic engagement with South Sudan’s leaders and encourage dialogue capable of breaking the current political deadlock.
CEPO maintained that while elections remain an important milestone in South Sudan’s transition, credible polls will require adequate funding, improved security, legal clarity and genuine political commitment to create conditions that allow citizens to participate freely and peacefully.
