The National Elections Commission (NEC) of South Sudan has announced that voter registration will commence in early November 2026, in preparation for the country's general elections scheduled for December 22, 2026. This will mark the country's first polls since gaining independence. NEC Chairperson Gabriel Bol Deng stated that the commission is ready to launch the voter registration exercise across the country, despite facing challenges such as funding shortages.
During a meeting with African Union (AU) officials at the organisation's headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Bol briefed them on the state of election preparedness. He expressed confidence in the commission's readiness to carry out the voter registration process, stating, "Everything is set, we will launch it and move quickly to carry out the voter registration across the country." However, the commission identified limited resources for civic and voter education, registration, and logistical arrangements as the main challenges facing preparations.
The government of South Sudan has committed to providing the necessary funding to support the electoral process, which has enabled the commission to undertake several preparatory activities. These activities include acquiring its headquarters, launching civic and voter education programmes, and producing voter registration documents. Bol acknowledged the government's support, which has helped the commission to move forward with its preparations.
The African Union has pledged to support South Sudan as the country prepares for the December 2026 elections. The AU plans to deploy election experts to assist the NEC, with arrangements underway to send experts to the country. Patience Zanelie Chiradza, Director of Governance and Conflict Prevention in the AU's Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security, stated that the organisation is working on logistical arrangements to send experts to help the NEC.
The AU has proposed establishing an election situation room where government institutions, civil society organisations, and the media can monitor the polls and exchange information on the democratic process. Chiradza mentioned that the organisation is ready to support training, civic education, and voter education, despite the limited time remaining before the elections. The AU will also approach other member states to seek additional assistance.
The NEC has received offers of support from Nigeria, while South Africa has provided some assistance in kind, according to Bol. The commission has also made significant progress in recruiting election workers, with 22,127 workers recruited to manage the December elections. Bol urged the African Union to provide additional support to help the country address outstanding financial and logistical requirements.
The successful conduct of the elections will be a significant milestone for South Sudan, marking a major step towards consolidating its democratic institutions. The country's first polls since independence are expected to be closely watched by the international community, with many stakeholders eager to see a peaceful and credible electoral process. The NEC's efforts to prepare for the elections have been commended by the AU and other international partners.
Key points
- Voter registration will commence in early November 2026.
- The African Union has pledged to support South Sudan's electoral process.
- The NEC has recruited 22,127 election workers to manage the December elections.
