South Sudan NEC new office in Juba. Photo: Wol Mapal/Eye Radio

JUBA, South Sudan, June 22, 2026 – The National Elections Commission (NEC) has officially declared 22 December 2026 as the date for South Sudan’s general elections, in accordance with the National Elections Act, 2012, as amended in 2023, and the extended transitional roadmap.

Speaking to during a media briefing on Monday, NEC Chairperson Prof. Abednego Akok Kacuol said the commission arrived at the decision after deliberations guided by the peace agreement and electoral laws governing the country.

The announcement follows the decision by the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) in September 2024 to extend the transitional period by an additional two years, postponing South Sudan’s first post-independence elections from December 2024 to December 2026.

According to Abednego, Article 16(1) of the National Elections Act requires the NEC to determine and publicly announce the election date at least six months before polling day through the official gazette, newspapers, the commission’s website and other mass media platforms.

Prof. Kacuol said the period between June 22 and December 22, 2026, satisfies the legal requirement for a six-month notice ahead of the elections.

“The election will be conducted on 22nd December 2026 as detailed in the National Elections Act and the R-ARCSS extension to December 22, 2026,” the statement reads.

Despite the announcement, the NEC acknowledged that significant challenges remain in preparations for the polls. The commission urged the government to expedite amendments to existing legal frameworks and provide the resources necessary for electoral activities within the remaining months before the vote.

“There are many challenges facing the Commission and we strongly request the government to speed up amending the existing legal gaps and to provide all basic needs within a short period to enable us proceed with our duties and responsibilities in the remaining few months,” the statement said.

The commission also called on citizens to exercise their democratic rights, emphasizing that voting remains the legitimate means of choosing leaders and transferring political power.

Prof. Kacuol further appealed to media houses across the country to widely disseminate the election date and help raise public awareness ahead of the polls.

The December 2026 elections are expected to be a key milestone in South Sudan’s peace process and democratic transition, as the country prepares for its first national elections since gaining independence in 2011.