South Sudan's parliament has announced plans to provide vehicles to lawmakers under a proposed car-loan scheme, its spokesperson Oliver Mori Benjamin said on September 22, 2026. The move comes hours after legislators passed amendments to the country's election law. According to Mori, President Salva Kiir has approved the purchase of the vehicles and the finance minister has issued a non-objection certificate allowing the process to proceed.
Under the proposed arrangement, parliamentary leaders would receive V6 vehicles, while committee chairpersons and other lawmakers would receive five-door Toyota vehicles. Mori stated that the vehicles would initially be treated as loans rather than as an outright entitlement. The leadership will get V6 vehicles, the chairs of the committees, and so on, while the rest of the MPs will get Toyota five-doors.
The announcement came as lawmakers called for their welfare and transport needs to be addressed before parliament is dissolved ahead of the planned December 22 elections. Taban Luka Guya of the National Agenda Party said lawmakers had endured difficult conditions and should receive support as they prepare to return to their constituencies. He emphasized that the welfare of the members of parliament, who have been suffering for a long time, should be looked into.
Guya specifically called for transport support for lawmakers, saying they needed to return to their constituencies to campaign for the elections. He also requested financial assistance to enable lawmakers to return to their constituencies after parliament is dissolved. According to Guya, the prospect of parliament being dissolved had created uncertainty among lawmakers, who are facing financial and physical pressure.
The National Legislature passed the National Elections Act, 2012 (Amendment) Bill, 2026, on September 22, and President Kiir signed it into law hours later. The amended law provides for changes to the country's electoral framework ahead of the December 22 presidential and legislative elections. It allows the incumbent president to remain in office with full constitutional powers throughout the election period.
The new law also gives the president powers to relieve the first vice president and other vice presidents from office within three months of the election date. Additionally, it provides that the president would dissolve the National Legislature, state legislative assemblies, and state governments within three months of the election date. The law further changes the composition of the national legislature.
South Sudan has scheduled its elections for December 22, 2026, after years of delays since independence in 2011. The elections are a significant step towards consolidating democracy in the country.
Key points
- South Sudan's parliament plans to provide vehicles to lawmakers under a proposed car-loan scheme.
- The move comes ahead of the country's dissolution and December elections.
- The new election law allows the incumbent president to remain in office with full constitutional powers throughout the election period.
