By Lodu William Odiya
The Chairperson of the National Elections Commission (NEC), Gabriel Bol Deng, has met with Catholic Bishop Edwardo Hiboro to discuss the Church’s role in promoting peaceful elections ahead of South Sudan’s December 2026 polls.
The meeting took place in Juba on Saturday and was attended by NEC Commissioner Josephine Achiro.
Discussions focused on cooperation between the elections body and the Church in promoting civic and voter education, peaceful political participation, and public confidence in the electoral process.
“Peaceful, inclusive, and credible elections require collective efforts from political institutions, religious leaders, and citizens,” Bol said.
He emphasised the importance of engaging religious leaders in preparing citizens to participate peacefully in the electoral process, noting that the Church can play a significant role in promoting understanding, unity, and responsible civic engagement.
Bishop Hiboro, of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio, expressed the Church’s willingness to support voter education, peacebuilding, and the dissemination of accurate electoral information through church structures and community networks.
The bishop’s commitment comes as South Sudan prepares for general elections scheduled for December 22, 2026, amid ongoing efforts to encourage peaceful political participation and public awareness of the electoral process.
Commissioner Achiro called on citizens to promote unity and peaceful coexistence as the country approaches the elections.
She stressed that voters should be allowed to choose their leaders freely, without coercion, intimidation, or discrimination based on ethnicity or religion.
The meeting highlighted the importance of cooperation between electoral institutions and religious organisations in encouraging citizens to understand their rights and responsibilities during elections.
Churches and other faith-based institutions maintain community networks that can help communicate electoral information, discourage violence, and encourage dialogue among people from different backgrounds.
As preparations continue, the NEC is seeking broader cooperation to ensure that citizens are informed about the electoral process and can participate peacefully.
The commission’s engagement with religious leaders forms part of wider efforts to encourage public confidence and promote an environment in which political differences are addressed through peaceful and democratic means.