Africa-Press – South-Sudan. Activist Edmond Yakani has urged the need for timely action to meet key electoral deadlines set out in the National Elections Act (2023, amended).
South Sudan is scheduled to hold national elections on 22nd December 2026. Under Section 41(1e) of the Act, the Government of National Unity is required to review and rename geographical constituencies by 22nd December 2025.
If this deadline is not met, Section 41(1f) stipulates that the constituencies used in the April 2010 elections will automatically apply.
Yakani who is the Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization said the remaining time to complete the constituency review is limited, warning that “the likelihood of defaulting to Section 41(1f) is very high if political leaders do not act promptly.”
He explained that delaying both provisions could disconnect the elections from constitutional and population processes, saying “the application of Section 41(1f) from 22nd December 2025 would delink elections from constitutional making and population considerations.”
Yakani Warned that failure to implement either Section 41(1e) or Section 41(1f) before 22nd September 2026 may complicate preparations for the polls.
He said this could leave the government with limited options, including forming an interim administration or extending the current transitional period.
He called on the Government of National Unity to make key political and technical decisions before 22nd December 2025, address electoral issues raised by the United Nations, African Union, and IGAD, as well as technical matters flagged by the National Elections Commission.
Yakani also cautioned that “any attempt to extend the transitional period or postpone the 2026 elections could trigger legal action at the East African Court of Justice,” citing precedents from similar cases in the region.
He stressed that holding the elections as planned is crucial, saying “the path to peace lies in conducting elections as scheduled on 22nd December 2026.”
The CEPO Executive Director added that the organization is ready to facilitate strategic dialogues among signatories to the Revitalized Peace Agreement, aimed at creating an enabling environment for inclusive political discussions.
Yakani said citizens’ demand for elections on the legally prescribed date remains “serious and non-negotiable.”
In October, the Chairperson of the National Elections Commission, Professor Abednego Akok, proposed that the upcoming elections be conducted based on the 2008 population census and the 2010 constituencies, noting that “time is limited before the December 2026 elections.”
Professor Akok also revealed that the Commission has not yet received funding for pre-election activities, despite a presidential directive instructing the Ministry of Finance to release the money.
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