Civil society has raised alarm over growing signs that spoilers within South Sudan’s political establishment are obstructing progress towards national dialogue and undermining preparations for the long-promised 2026 elections.
Edmond Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), said findings from their pre-election domestic observation show the country is sliding into a dangerous stalemate, fueled by delays in funding the National Election Commission (NEC) and withholding of key political decisions.
“Our assessment clearly indicates that spoilers are blocking the acceptance of political dialogue because they benefit from the extension of transitional periods,” Yakani told journalists in Juba on Monday.
“This delay is making the pathway towards elections rougher by the day.”
According to Yakani, the NEC lacks the resources to begin even the most basic tasks, such as voter registration and voter education, with less than 11 months left before the polls.
He noted that the Population and Housing Census has not yet commenced, further complicating the electoral calendar.
“Technically, we are running out of time. The Commission has no adequate funding to deliver on its mandate, and without urgent political decisions, it cannot create the conditions needed for free and fair elections,” he said.
Among the unresolved issues are whether the elections will be conducted under a permanent constitution or the current transitional charter, and whether they should be linked to the pending census.
Yakani stressed that such questions require political consensus at the highest level—consensus that has not materialized.
“South Sudan entered September 2025 without clarity on these fundamental issues. Every delay weakens the Commission’s ability to prepare,” he warned.
Yakani accused sections of the political class of deliberately dragging their feet to secure another extension of the transitional period, despite repeated assurances from President Salva Kiir and other leaders that elections will be held on schedule in December 2026.
“It seems we have a class of politicians who survive through extensions. Indicators that another extension is coming are very high. In two or three months, we may begin hearing excuses,” he said.
CEPO urged the principals of the 2018 peace agreement to urgently convene a political dialogue to resolve the impasse, saying spoilers are exploiting the absence of dialogue to maintain the status quo.
“We are disturbed, disappointed, and unhappy. Our leaders must change their political attitudes and approaches if this country is to transition from violence to peace,” Yakani said.
South Sudan’s transitional period has already been extended multiple times since the peace agreement was signed seven years ago. Another delay, civil society warns, risks deepening public disillusionment and damaging prospects for democratic transition.
