The National Electoral Commission of South Sudan has urged financial assistance to support preparations for the country’s first general elections, scheduled for December 2026.
Speaking at a one-day roundtable in Juba on Thursday, Commissioner Amos Juma stressed the urgent need for funding to ensure the elections are free, fair and credible. He stressed the importance of engaging stakeholders, including civil society and political parties, and called for the rapid implementation of a civic and voter education strategy to raise public awareness.
“We must continue to engage with stakeholders and accelerate the distribution of voter education materials so that the public is well informed ahead of the elections,” he stated.
Echoing the Commissioner’s concerns, Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation (CEPO), said limited funding was holding back critical components of the electoral roadmap. He marked delays in the consolidation of security forces, the stalled constitution-making process and the unsolved national census as key factors contributing to the slow pace of preparations.
Yakani noted that President Salva Kiir had reached an agreement with the electoral commission to hold credible elections in 2026. However, he warned that progress was lagging behind.
“Preparations are less than 50% complete. South Sudan will face challenges in holding the elections as planned if funds are not distributed by the political leadership on time,” Yakani said.
He stated that the commission was developing materials for citizenship and voter education and was ready to begin voter registration, but financial constraints remained the primary obstacle to carrying out these plans.
The election process is expected to cost around $2 million, with the South Sudan’s government expected to provide only 15% of the total funding, leaving an important gap that authorities hope development partners will help fill.