The presidential assent, announced by the Office of the President on Wednesday, formally brings the amendment into force and provides the legal framework for the country’s planned national elections in December 2026.

The government says the amendment will allow electoral preparations to proceed under the Transitional Constitution and existing electoral laws while other transitional processes continue.

The newly enacted changes remove previous provisions that tied the conduct of elections to the completion of the permanent constitution process and the carrying out of a national population census. The government argues that separating these processes clears the way for elections to be held within the agreed timeframe.

The amendment was passed earlier by South Sudan’s Transitional National Legislature through Resolution Number 05 of 2026, before being submitted to the president for assent. The parliamentary approval forms the legislative background to the president’s decision to sign the amendment into law.

Following the signing, the government says the next step will be to harmonize the Transitional Constitution and the National Elections Act with the amended provisions. The Ministries of Presidential Affairs and Justice and Constitutional Affairs are expected to lead the implementation process.

The presidency described the enactment as a significant milestone in the implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement, saying it demonstrates the government’s commitment to holding peaceful, credible, and constitutional elections in December 2026.

The amendment comes as South Sudan prepares for its first national elections since independence, after years of delays caused by conflict and challenges in implementing key provisions of the 2018 peace deal.

International partners have been closely monitoring the electoral process and have repeatedly called for any changes to the peace agreement to be carried out through inclusive and transparent procedures involving all parties to the agreement and other stakeholders.

While the government maintains that the amendment removes obstacles to elections, international observers have emphasized that the credibility of the polls will depend on broader preparations, including political participation, security arrangements, electoral reforms, constitutional progress, and respect for civic freedoms.

The signing of the amendment now places responsibility on relevant institutions to translate the new legal framework into practical electoral preparations ahead of the December 2026 vote.