The announcement came during a meeting in Juba where Professor Akok updated the president on the progress made by the Commission as the country prepares for general elections scheduled for December 2026.
According to Professor Akok, the Commission is working toward publicly declaring the exact date of the vote in the coming months. “Plans are underway to announce the official election date in June,” he said, noting that preparations are being accelerated as the electoral timeline tightens.
South Sudan’s elections were initially scheduled for 26 December 2026, a date that has drawn criticism from observers and sections of the public because it falls during the Christmas season, when many citizens are typically engaged in religious celebrations and family gatherings. The planned June announcement is expected to clarify whether the date will remain unchanged or be adjusted.
Professor Akok said the Commission is preparing to roll out two major nationwide activities in the coming months: civic education and voter registration. He explained that the two processes will begin simultaneously as the country moves closer to the polls.
“Nationwide civic education and voter registration will be rolled out simultaneously, given that the elections are now only eight months away,” he stated.
The Commission also confirmed that the elections will take place across 102 geographical constituencies covering South Sudan’s 10 states and three administrative areas. Discussions during the meeting also addressed operational issues such as constituency demarcation and logistical planning needed to ensure a smooth electoral process.
President Kiir, according to the statement, urged the Commission to maintain momentum in its preparations and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the electoral process. The president “emphasised the importance of maintaining momentum in the preparations” and indicated that the government would “avail the necessary resource and logistical support required for the successful conduct of the elections in December 2026.”
Professor Akok welcomed the president’s engagement, describing it as an important boost to the Commission’s work as it continues preparations aimed at delivering what he described as “credible and orderly elections for the people of South Sudan.”
With less than nine months left, there has been growing concern over the sluggish preparations for the polls, with only 4% of the election budget released to the NEC, according to Edmund Yakani, a civil society activist and the Executive Director for Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO).
