James Boboya Edimond|Eye Radio, June 12, 2025 . (Photo: Eye Radio)

 South Sudan’s planned general elections on 22 December 2026 risk becoming a mere procedural exercise unless critical constitutional, security, political, and financial reforms are implemented beforehand, a leading policy analyst has warned.

Boboya James Edimon, a policy and political analyst and Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Social Policy Research, said preparations currently highlighted by electoral authorities, including civic education campaigns and the acquisition of office space for the National Elections Commission, are insufficient to guarantee credible and peaceful elections.

Responding to a recent announcement by the Chairperson of the National Elections Commission, Edimon argued that the foundations necessary for a legitimate electoral process remain largely unresolved.

“The success of the declared elections cannot be secured through symbolic or administrative measures alone,” he said, stressing that electoral preparedness must be anchored in broader institutional and political reforms.

He identified the establishment of a mutually agreed constitutional and legal framework as the first essential requirement.

According to Edimon, clear laws governing electoral mandates, timelines, dispute resolution mechanisms, and institutional independence are necessary to ensure legitimacy and enforceability.

He also highlighted the importance of security sector reforms, particularly the unification and professionalization of armed forces under a single national command structure.

“Without a stable security environment, neither voter participation nor electoral integrity can be guaranteed,” he said.

The analyst further called for the expansion of civic and political space, arguing that freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful assembly, as well as equitable access to media platforms, are crucial for public confidence in the electoral process.

He warned that elections conducted in a restricted political environment could undermine trust and weaken political inclusion.

Edimone also raised concerns about election financing, urging the government to secure adequate funding in a timely and transparent manner. Reliance on fragmented external support, he said, could affect planning and operational readiness.

Beyond technical preparations, he emphasized the need for broad political consensus among parties and stakeholders through inclusive dialogue.

“Elections are not merely technical exercises. They are political processes that require minimum agreements on the rules of engagement,” he said.

While acknowledging the importance of international support, Edimon maintained that external assistance should strengthen, rather than substitute, national ownership of the electoral process.

South Sudan is preparing for what would be its first elections since independence in 2011. The polls have been repeatedly postponed amid political disagreements, security concerns, and delays in implementing key provisions of the peace agreement.

Edimon concluded that unless constitutional, security, political, financial, and consensus-building requirements are addressed collectively, the elections may fail to deliver the peace, stability, and development many South Sudanese expect.