President remains in office as Vice Presidents face pre-election exit – National Legislature

The Minister of Justice has tabled the National Elections Commission Act 2012 Amendment Bill 2026 before the National Legislature on Wednesday 16 September, 2026.

The bill proposes that the incumbent President remain in office with full constitutional powers throughout the election period, while the First Vice President and other Vice Presidents would be relieved of their positions three months before polling day.

The bill has now been referred to the Legislation Committee for scrutiny and further consideration.

The proposed amendment comes as South Sudan prepares to transition from the current Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity to an elected government.

The transitional government was established under the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement as a power-sharing arrangement among the parties to the conflict.

The agreement created a collective Presidency comprising the President, First Vice President and four Vice Presidents, alongside a power-sharing executive and transitional legislature.

However, delays in implementing key provisions of the peace agreement have resulted in extensions of the transitional period and left aspects of the legal framework for the transition to an elected government requiring further clarification.

The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Dr. Wek Mamer Kuol, said the purpose of the amendment is to harmonize inconsistencies in the existing electoral law and ensure its conformity with the Transitional Constitution.

“The prime purpose of this bill is to amend provisions of the National Election Act 2012 in order to harmonize the inconsistencies and ensure its conformity with the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan 2011 as amended and any other relevant provision,” he explained.

Parliamentary spokesperson Oliver Mori says the amendment bill contains two chapters and 17 sections.

He says it provides that the incumbent President will remain in office with all constitutional powers during the elections, while the First Vice President and other Vice Presidents will be relieved three months before the election date.

“During the time of elections, the incumbent President will remain in office with all his powers as stated in the Constitution,” Mori said.

The bill is now before the Legislation Committee, where its provisions are expected to undergo further review before it returns to the Assembly for subsequent parliamentary action.