As South Sudan approaches its long-awaited general elections in December 2026, civil society leaders warn that unresolved trauma and political fragmentation could turn the ballot into a battleground instead of a path to progress.
Ter Manyang, Executive Director of the Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA), stressed that no vote can be legitimate without first addressing the emotional and social scars left by years of war.
“South Sudanese communities need to reconcile through the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing (CTRH) before any meaningful elections can take place,” he said during a national roundtable hosted July 15–16 in Juba.
The elections, postponed multiple times since 2015 due to conflict and slow peace implementation, face fundamental hurdles, including no permanent constitution, incomplete security unification, and delays in national census planning.
As deadlines clash between legal mandates and transitional timelines, the National Elections Commission (NEC) struggles to prepare amid logistical and financial constraints.
Civil society voices continue to push for a people-centered approach. Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of CEPO, stressed that “a well-managed electoral process is the only viable way to transition South Sudan from violence to peace. Elections are not a game. They require civic responsibility and compromise.”
International partners, including the UN Integrated Electoral Assistance Team, support efforts to create an inclusive vote. “We’re honored to stand with South Sudan,” said Darren Scott Nance of UNMISS, calling the moment critical to national sovereignty.
Still, fault lines remain. With growing fears of renewed violence, civic leaders argue that healing must precede politics. “Elections do not automatically bring peace,” Manyang warned. “If we ignore the deeper wounds, this vote could cause more harm than good.”
As the countdown begins, the question looms as to whether South Sudan will address its fault lines or vote before healing truly begins.
