By Yiep Joseph/Lodu William Odiya
As the country continue with the election preparations, the National Election Commission (NEC) has announced vital step inline with the peace agreement.
On Monday, NEC leadership declared its readiness to conduction election as stated in the roadmap and as agreed by the parties to the peace agreement.
The Commission informed the public that the country will use the 2010 constituencies to conduction the elections in 2026.
NEC decision followed the recent declaration by the parties to the 2018 peace agreement to move the election forward in 2026 despites pending requirement such as population census and the constitution.
Few days ago, the parties to the peace agreement declared that they have decided to go for election despites lack of population census or constitution.
The parties however agreed to speedup the implementation of security arrangement and other chapters.
While addressing Journalists on Monday Prof. Abednego Akok Kacuol, the chairperson of the National Elections Commission (NEC) reiterated that his office remains committed to conduct the elections.
He expressed that the announcement of the constituencies remains vital as it signifies successful process toward election.
“Today is going to be a remarkable day in the history of South Sudan and it will be step one forward for the actual implementation of the act (election act) as it” Akok said
Prof Akok readout the official statement of the commission inline with the decision from the parties to the peace agreement, 2018 peace agreement and the constitution.
“In reference to the decision made by the parties to the agreement (R-ARCSS) on 10th December 2025 to delink the conduct of a new population census and constitution-making process as a pre-conditions for the conduct of general election in December 2026 and in accordance with the National Elections Act 2012(Amendment) Act, 2023 Section (41)(e)&(f) that gave the NEC powers to revert the country to use the constituencies of the 2010 General elections for the upcoming December 2026 elections in the Republic of South Sudan” he readout.
As legalized by the above readout articles, NEC Chairperson prof Akok declared the 102 constituencies in accordance to the Ten (10) states and administrative areas.
The states include; Central Equatoria which has fourteen (14), Eastern Equatoria with 11 and Western Equatoria states with 8 National constituencies respectively.
Others states include; Jonglei state has seventeen National constituencies including Greater Pibor Administrative Area.
The commission underscored that Unity state including Ruweng Administrative Area has Seven, Upper Nile state with twelve and Lakes state with eight National constituencies.
Meanwhile, Northern Barh el Gazal state has nine and Western Barh el Gazal state has four National constituencies.
However, Warrap state has 12 National constituencies including Abyei Administrative Area
Prof Akok revealed that the detailed information regrading the constituencies will be posted on the print media and NEC official sits.
He expressed that the Commission remain independent and committed to ensure free and fair election.
The chairperson expressed that the commission has started with other process and will continue to ensure that the elections are conducted.
He said despites challenges in term of security; the election security committee has made research hence showing readiness for the country to go for election.
Recently prof Akok announced the date for the country’s election set to be held in 2026 after the end of the transitional period.
In a briefing to President Salva Kiir on Friday, Prof. Abednego Akok Kachuol, the Chairperson of NEC, confirmed that general elections will be conducted on 26 December 2026, as per earlier agreements by political parties.
According to him the process will start with declaration of constituencies as some of the processes such as civic Education as been going on.
South Sudan has postponed its elections five times since gaining independence in 2011. The country’s first elections were initially scheduled for 2015 but have been delayed to 2018, 2021, 2023, 2024.
Critical prerequisites for credible elections remain unaddressed. These include the lack of a permanent constitution, an outdated voter registry (no census since 2008), and insufficient funding for key electoral bodies like the National Elections Commission, National Constitutional Review Commission, and Political Parties Council, which were only reconstituted in November 2023.
Additionally, the unification and deployment of the Necessary Unified Forces (83,000 personnel) for election security have not been completed, posing significant risks to voter safety.
The United States, the United Kingdom, Norway, and the United Nations have repeatedly expressed concerns that South Sudan is not on a path to hold credible elections, citing the government’s failure to create an enabling environment.
The UN has emphasised that without urgent reforms, elections could lead to violence with “disastrous consequences”.
Also, the civil society has continued to called on the parties to the agreement to dialogue and speedup the implementation of the peace agreement in order to pathway for credible election in 2026.