President Kiir requested South Africa for NEC-branded ballot boxes
South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit has requested South African assistance with election materials, staff training and security equipment ahead of the country’s planned December 2026 general elections, according to the Office of the President.
In a statement published on October 9, the Office of the President said Kiir who returned to Juba on Friday, made the request during his visit to Pretoria, where he held talks with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on South Sudan’s electoral preparations, peacebuilding efforts and regional economic cooperation.
The requested assistance includes Commission-branded ballot boxes, specialized training for election personnel in South Sudan, uniforms for security personnel, and digital identification cards for election officials and operational staff.
According to the Office of the President, the request formed part of discussions on strengthening technical and logistical support for the country’s electoral process.
The statement said Kiir briefed Ramaphosa on progress made by the National Elections Commission, including the establishment of its headquarters, civic education activities, identification of voter registration centres, recruitment of election workers, training of election security personnel and printing of the voter registration ledger.
The Office of the President said Ramaphosa welcomed the reported progress and reaffirmed South Africa’s support for peaceful, inclusive, fair and credible elections, including assistance with electoral materials and electoral supervision.
The two leaders agreed to immediate technical follow-up to translate their discussions into practical support for the electoral process, according to the statement.
During the visit, Kiir also thanked Ramaphosa for his leadership of the African Union High-Level Ad Hoc Committee on South Sudan, known as the C5, and acknowledged South Africa’s role in supporting the implementation of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement and South Sudan’s 2011 independence referendum.
Kiir’s visit to South Africa followed engagements in Kenya, where he also held talks on preparations for the December polls and regional cooperation.
The Office of the President said the necessary legal steps for the elections had been completed, while administrative, logistical and financial preparations were continuing and inter-party dialogue was nearing conclusion.
The December 2026 elections are expected to be a significant milestone in South Sudan’s political transition. However, the extent to which the requested assistance will be delivered, and whether preparations will be completed in time, remains to be established.
