South Sudan's President Salva Kiir Mayardit has requested assistance from South Africa for the country's planned December 2026 general elections. According to the Office of the President, Kiir made the request during his visit to Pretoria, where he held talks with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. The discussions focused on South Sudan's electoral preparations, peacebuilding efforts, and regional economic cooperation. Kiir's visit to South Africa followed engagements in Kenya, where he also held talks on preparations for the December polls and regional cooperation.
The requested assistance includes Commission-branded ballot boxes, specialized training for election personnel in South Sudan, uniforms for security personnel, and digital identification cards for election officials and operational staff. The request formed part of discussions on strengthening technical and logistical support for the country's electoral process. According to the Office of the President, Kiir briefed Ramaphosa on progress made by the National Elections Commission, including the establishment of its headquarters and civic education activities.
President Ramaphosa welcomed the reported progress and reaffirmed South Africa's support for peaceful, inclusive, fair, and credible elections. This support includes assistance with electoral materials and electoral supervision. The two leaders agreed to immediate technical follow-up to translate their discussions into practical support for the electoral process. The Office of the President said the necessary legal steps for the elections had been completed, while administrative, logistical, and financial preparations were continuing.
Inter-party dialogue was nearing conclusion, according to the Office of the President. The December 2026 elections are expected to be a significant milestone in South Sudan's political transition. However, the extent to which the requested assistance will be delivered, and whether preparations will be completed in time, remains to be established. Kiir also thanked Ramaphosa for his leadership of the African Union High-Level Ad Hoc Committee on South Sudan, known as the C5.
South Africa played a role in supporting the implementation of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement and South Sudan's 2011 independence referendum. During his visit, Kiir acknowledged South Africa's contributions to South Sudan's peace and stability. The Office of the President said Kiir returned to Juba on Friday, following his visit to Pretoria.
The National Elections Commission has made progress in preparations, including identification of voter registration centres, recruitment of election workers, training of election security personnel, and printing of the voter registration ledger. According to the Office of the President, these efforts aim to ensure a smooth electoral process.
The two countries' leaders emphasized their commitment to cooperation, with a focus on enhancing electoral processes and peacebuilding efforts in South Sudan. Key aspects of their discussion included technical and logistical support for the electoral process and regional economic cooperation.
Key points
- South Sudan's President Salva Kiir requests assistance from South Africa for the 2026 elections.
- The requested assistance includes Commission-branded ballot boxes and specialized training for election personnel.
- The December 2026 elections are a significant milestone in South Sudan's political transition.
