By Yiep Joseph
President Salva Kiir Mayardit has signed into law the 2026 amendment to the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
According to a statement issued by the Office of the President, the amendment delinked the permanent constitution and the carrying out of a national population census from the conduct of elections.
While the peace implementation continues as usual, the amendment that was later signed into law by the president, according to the government, clears the legal path for the country to hold general elections in December 2026.
The office of the president described the presidential assent as a significant milestone in the implementation of the 2018 agreement, citing that it establishes the legal framework necessary for the country to proceed with the planned elections within the agreed timeline.
“The amendment clears the legal pathway for the conduct of South Sudan’s national elections scheduled for December 2026,” the statement said.
According to the office of the president, the changes are intended to facilitate the implementation of the country’s political transition.
The decision comes as South Sudan continues preparations for elections that have been postponed several times since the signing of the peace agreement.
The transitional government has maintained that the polls are essential to completing the country’s transition from conflict to democratic governance.
While the amendment removes legal obstacles related to the constitution-making process and population census, several other tasks under the peace agreement remain ongoing.
These include electoral preparations, security sector reforms, civic education, voter registration, and the deployment of institutions responsible for managing the electoral process.
The government has repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment to holding peaceful, free, and credible elections, urging all political stakeholders and citizens to support the implementation of the peace agreement and participate constructively in the democratic process.
South Sudan, which gained independence in 2011, has yet to conduct its first national elections since becoming an independent state.
The December 2026 polls are expected to mark a historic milestone in the country’s political development if held as scheduled.
However, they note that the success of the elections will depend on continued implementation of outstanding provisions of the peace agreement, sustained political dialogue among the parties, and the availability of adequate resources to organise a credible nationwide vote.
With the legal amendment now in force, attention is expected to shift toward accelerating the remaining electoral preparations as South Sudan moves closer to its anticipated December 2026 elections.