NEC allocated SSP 184 Billion for December general elections

The National Elections Commission has been allocated nearly 184 billion South Sudanese Pounds in the proposed 2026–2027 fiscal year budget to fund pre-election operations and conduct the general elections scheduled for December 22.

Finance and Planning Minister Kuol Ayulo disclosed the allocation on Tuesday, September 8, while presenting the first reading of the national budget before the Transitional National Legislative Assembly.

Ayulo told lawmakers that 183 billion, 988 million and 213 thousand South Sudan Pounds has been earmarked for election-related activities.

The allocation comes less than four months before the elections, which the National Elections Commission has scheduled for December 22, 2026.

The proposed budget is now before the Transitional National Legislative Assembly for consideration and approval.

Voter Registration and Operational Readiness

Ahead of the December 2026 elections, the National Elections Commission has started training election officials from all ten states and three Administrative Areas on voter registration.

The training aims to equip officials with operational skills to execute nationwide voter registration. National Elections Commission Chairperson Prof. Abednego Akok Kacuol stated during the training that every eligible citizen retains the right to register and vote, urging state election committees to collaborate to ensure comprehensive reach.

State officials have expressed operational readiness

Unity State high Elections Committee Chairperson George Kong Gattang confirmed the state is prepared to launch voter registration immediately following the training session.

Also in Warrap State, the high Elections Committee Chairperson Jacob Anei Manyiel called on residents to mobilize and register in large numbers once operations commence.

The Commission declared voter registration a critical benchmark and reaffirmed its commitment to conducting the polls. The launch of voter registration is expected in the coming weeks as the country approaches the end of the transitional period in February 2027.

Legal Framework and Civil Society Warnings

The budget presentation and training follow the adoption and signing into law of Constitutional Amendment No. 13, which delinks the conduct of national elections from the permanent constitution-making process and the national population census.

Civil society advocate Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), warned lawmakers against using constitutional adjustments to delay voting.

Yakani urged Parliament to establish a clear timeline to prevent legal amendments from resulting in an extended caretaker administration or election postponement.

Public Sentiment and Logistical Concerns

Public feedback gathered on Eye Radio’s Dawn Program reflects mixed views regarding South Sudan’s preparedness for the December 2026 polls following the passage of Constitutional Amendment No. 13:

• Logistical Challenges: Callers highlighted transport risks. On-air respondent Panjang noted that conducting elections at the end of the rainy season presents severe physical obstacles due to unpaved and muddy road networks, which complicate the distribution of ballot boxes.

• Political Will: Conversely, caller Abu Lulu argued that logistical hurdles must not serve as a pretext for delay, emphasizing that prompt disbursement of funds to electoral committees alongside joint security operations will enable successful polls.

• Governance Mandate: Caller David Magok emphasized the necessity of holding polls to allow citizens to select leaders, citing long-standing deficits in public sector salaries, road infrastructure, medical services, and regional security under current transitional arrangements.