President Salva Kiir Mayardit has told the African Union High-Level Ad Hoc Committee on South Sudan, known as the C5, and leaders of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) that South Sudan has cleared the legal path for the country’s planned December 2026 general elections.
Kiir made the remarks during a virtual engagement with the C5 and IGAD on Tuesday as regional and continental leaders assessed South Sudan’s readiness for the December 22 polls.
The meeting came days after the government amended the National Elections Act and President Kiir signed the changes into law, following an earlier constitutional amendment that separated the conduct of elections from the completion of a permanent constitution and national census.
The President has previously described the legal roadmap as completed, while saying administrative and logistical preparations, security arrangements and election-related political dialogue were continuing.
South Sudan’s electoral roadmap was also discussed during the Inter-Party Political Dialogue launched in Juba on September 24, where Kiir said the process should focus on reaching a shared path toward peaceful and credible elections.
The C5 and IGAD engagement comes as regional leaders continue to press South Sudanese political actors to complete outstanding preparations ahead of the December vote.
C5 Chairperson and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said regional and continental partners had noted recent developments, including the dissolution of the transitional government on September 22, amendments to the Elections Act and the launch of the inter-party dialogue.
Ramaphosa said credible elections require more than the holding of a vote, stressing the importance of an inclusive political process, security arrangements, protection of electoral personnel and civilians, adequate financing, and sufficient institutional and operational capacity.
The C5 consists of South Africa, Algeria, Chad, Nigeria and Rwanda. The committee has been working with IGAD and other regional and international partners to support South Sudan’s political transition and preparations for elections.
The December 22 elections are expected to mark the end of South Sudan’s prolonged transitional period, with authorities now facing a compressed timetable to complete remaining administrative, logistical, security and political preparations.
The regional engagement follows months of international calls for South Sudanese leaders to implement outstanding commitments under the Revitalized Peace Agreement and create conditions for an inclusive and credible electoral process.
The C5 has maintained that South Sudan’s transition requires political dialogue and implementation of the peace agreement alongside preparations for elections, while Kiir’s government has continued to maintain its commitment to holding the December polls.
