National Elections Commission Headquarters in Juba. Photo credit: Wol Mapal/Eye Radio

The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) says South Sudanese are increasingly losing trust and confidence in the country’s preparations for the December 2026 general elections, citing unfulfilled government promises, delayed voter education and worsening insecurity.

Presenting CEPO’s domestic pre-election observation findings for April, May and June on Friday, Executive Director Edmond Yakani said delays in the timely release of funds continue to undermine the work of institutions responsible for organizing the elections.

According to Yakani, both the National Elections Commission and the Political Parties Council have reported financial constraints that have slowed key electoral activities.

“It is clear that the delay in timely and adequate funding is causing a severe impact on the country’s preparation for holding elections in December 2026. We have also heard from the leadership of the National Elections Commission that voter education could not roll out because of delayed and inadequate funding,” Yakani said.

He added that the funding shortfall has prevented the launch of voter education, leaving many citizens without information on voter registration requirements, eligibility criteria and constituency boundaries.

CEPO also identified rising insecurity as a major threat to the electoral process. Yakani cited continued clashes involving the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and the SPLA-IO, as well as communal violence, cattle raids and conflicts over gold mining.

“We have seen a rise in insecurity due to communal and politically motivated violence, including deadly cattle raids and clashes between communities over gold mining,” he said.

Yakani warned that public confidence in the electoral process is declining because government commitments have yet to be translated into action.

“The citizens are losing trust and confidence in the country’s preparation for elections because multiple promises made to them have not been fulfilled. As we speak now, voter education is not being carried out to inform citizens how to register, the requirements for voter eligibility, or where they will register in terms of constituencies,” he said.

He added that residents of the Ruweng Administrative Area and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area have raised concerns about how they will participate in the elections under the current constituency arrangements.

“A certain section of the population is questioning the country’s preparation for the elections in relation to their participation in the electoral process. This concern is coming from the Ruweng Administrative Area and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area,” Yakani said.