[REVISION HISTORY]

South Sudan 2026 election rollout and security risks

Updated 4 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-08-22 13:34 UTC → 2026-08-22 14:11 UTC · added ~~removed~~

In late July 2026, South Sudan announced that its first national election would be held on 22 December 2026, marking the inaugural vote since the 2018 peace agreement. The announcement highlighted persistent challenges such as institutional weakness, security concerns, and incomplete reforms, while noting that President Salva Kiir had declared his candidacy and the detained Vice-President Riek Machar remained on trial. The following day, the National Elections Commission launched a nationwide voter-education campaign aimed at informing citizens about registration, voting procedures, and electoral rights. The program, described as non-partisan, targeted women, youth, persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons, and other vulnerable groups. In August 2026, Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Wek Mamer Kuol tabled a constitutional amendment bill to facilitate the election timeline. Approved by the cabinet on 7 August, the legislation seeks to decouple the vote from the completion of a permanent constitution and a national population and housing census. This move has drawn significant criticism from the SPLM-IO, which rejected the timetable and criticized modifications to the 2018 peace agreement. The European Union has warned that the country faces a potential “legal limbo” because the government intends to hold polls under the transitional constitution. EU Deputy Head of Mission Lothar Jascke expressed disappointment, noting that the National Constitutional Review Commission and the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission were not consulted as required. ~~He emphasized that failure to follow proper amendment procedures could undermine~~ On 22 August 2026, President Salva Kiir directed the ~~legitimacy of~~ National Elections Commission (NEC) to accelerate preparations for the ~~elections.~~ December polls following assessment missions across ten states and three administrative areas. NEC Chairperson Prof. Abednego Akok Kachuol indicated that voter registration is expected to commence shortly. Concurrently, United Nations investigators have warned of deteriorating security and human rights ~~conditions. A UNMISS report documented~~ conditions, noting 107 incidents between April and June 2026 that resulted in 418 deaths and 400 injuries.

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