County commissioners, councillors will not be elected in December polls – Makuei

The Minister of East African Affairs Michael Makuei Lueth says county commissioners and councillors will not be elected in the upcoming elections saying there will separate elections for local governments.

Makuei, who was appointed as caretaker minister following the dissolution of the transitional government, made the remarks while speaking in Bor town, Jonglei State, over the weekend.

He was speaking at a ceremony organised in honour of the late Bishop Emeritus of Bor, Nathaniel Garang Anyieth.

Makuei said those to be elected in the coming elections include the president, state governors, national lawmakers and state lawmakers.

“It has been 16 years since we last had elections. Because of this, the government has decided that there will be elections this year. Those to be elected include the President, state governors, heads of administrative areas, national lawmakers and state lawmakers. However, county commissioners and county councillors will not be elected in the coming elections,” he said.

He said local government officials will be elected on a separate date to be determined by the National Elections Commission.

“ This is because, according to the Local Government Act, local government elections are organized separately on a date to be decided by the National Elections Commission. So, I am appealing to you, the people of Bor, to prepare for the coming elections,” he added.

Last year, an expanded presidency meeting chaired by President Salva Kiir resolved to proceed with elections without a permanent constitution and population census, which had previously been required under the peace agreement.

The National Elections Commission has since announced that elections will be conducted on December 22, 2026.

However, the commission has not indicated which elected positions will not be contested in the upcoming polls, including whether the decision applies to national or local government positions.