South Sudan is scheduled to hold its first general elections since independence on December 22, 2026. President Salva Kiir and his inner circle have repeatedly insisted that the elections will take place on that date. The elections aim to bring an end to South Sudan's post-conflict transition, which has been led by a power-sharing government since 2018. The ruling party, the South Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), has already begun its internal primaries to select aspirants.
The electoral preparations face serious problems, with the National Elections Commission announcing that voter registration will begin in early November 2026, leaving less than two months before polling day. Three major obstacles stand in the way: the absence of a national electoral register, millions of internally displaced people, and uncertainty over a recently amended electoral law. The electoral authorities must register voters, verify the register, confirm candidates, prepare ballot papers, and organize polling across the country.
The country's population is widely dispersed, with many communities difficult to reach due to poor roads and seasonal flooding. Millions of South Sudanese live far from their home areas, many without valid documents. Around 2.5 million people are internally displaced, while over 2.3 million refugees live in neighboring countries like Kenya and Uganda. The electoral commission plans to register voters manually, using paper registration books before entering the information into its computer systems.
The process faces several challenges, including training thousands of staff and ensuring the quality of the process. The electoral commission appears to be planning to accept confirmation of people's identities through community chiefs, enabling those without IDs to participate in the process. Polling stations need personnel and equipment, and candidate nominations require written endorsements from registered voters.
The ruling party's electoral process has generated remarkable political activity, with hundreds of aspirants submitting applications for nominations. Party members are voting to select SPLM nominees, and the primaries have created another timetable problem. Candidates cannot complete formal nomination applications before the party has decided who will represent it. The SPLM is dominant in many parts of the country, and winning its nomination may effectively determine eventual winners in several constituencies.
South Sudan has postponed elections repeatedly since signing its 2018 peace agreement. Elections first scheduled for December 2022 were pushed to 2024, then to 2026 due to delays in implementing parts of the peace agreement. Another extension would take place under different circumstances, with the September 2026 constitutional amendment removing the requirement to complete the permanent constitution and population census before holding elections.
A technical postponement is one possible solution, providing additional time for registration and candidate nomination while maintaining the political commitment to conducting general elections. The presidency has invested considerable political authority in the December deadline, and the SPLM leadership has insisted that general elections will be held at all levels. Retreating from this commitment would carry political costs, but giving electoral authorities more time without reopening the political transition or abandoning the commitment to elections is a significant challenge.
Key points
- South Sudan faces significant challenges in preparing for December elections, including no existing national electoral register and millions of internally displaced people.
- The country's electoral commission plans to register voters manually, using paper registration books before entering the information into its computer systems.
- A technical postponement is one possible solution, providing additional time for registration and candidate nomination while maintaining the political commitment to conducting general elections.
