President Salva Kiir addresses an SPLM leadership meeting in Juba on Thursday, July 2, 2026. Photo: Awan Moses/Eye Radio.

President Salva Kiir says the government has removed the census and permanent constitution-making process to allow the country to proceed with elections.

Kiir said the census and permanent constitution-making process have been de-linked from the electoral roadmap to allow the country to proceed with elections.

The President, who is also the chairperson of the SPLM, made the remarks during a leadership summit in Juba on Thursday.

His comments came after the National Legislature passed an amendment bill de-linking the census and permanent constitution-making, which were two key requirements for elections under the 2018 peace agreement.

Kiir said the decision was intended to ensure citizens can exercise their democratic right to choose their leaders through the ballot box.

“We have de-linked the process of the census and constitution-making to clear the path for elections,” Kiir said.

He told party leaders that the implementation roadmap had been amended to allow elections to move forward without waiting for the completion of the census and permanent constitution-making process.

The meeting brought together senior SPLM officials, including members of the Political Bureau, National Liberation Council, state chairpersons and secretaries, parliamentary caucuses and representatives of the party’s leagues.

Kiir said South Sudan has spent too long under transitional arrangements and urged party members to support efforts to move the country toward democratic governance.

He also called on the ruling party to embrace merit-based leadership and modern policies that respond to the needs and expectations of citizens.

The President said peace remains the foundation for stability and development and is essential for preserving the gains achieved since the signing of the peace agreement.

On governance, Kiir directed party members to follow official SPLM structures when recommending individuals for public office, saying appointments should be based on party procedures rather than personal or community lobbying.

The remarks come after the National Legislature approved amendments to the implementation timetable of the Revitalized Peace Agreement, paving the way for elections to proceed without the prior completion of the permanent constitution-making process.

South Sudan is expected to hold its first post-independence elections, although several key provisions of the peace agreement remain outstanding.