By Matik Kueth
President Salva Kiir on Monday assented to the National Elections Act, 2012 (Amendment) Bill, 2026, turning the legislation into law as South Sudan continues preparations for the December 2026 general elections.
The assent follows the Transitional National Legislature’s passage of the amendment.
The legislation seeks to harmonize inconsistencies in the existing electoral law and align it with the Transitional Constitution of South Sudan, as amended.
The amended law provides a legal framework for the conduct of the upcoming elections and clarifies provisions governing the executive during the electoral period.
The legislation was initially tabled before Parliament on September 16 by Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Wek Mamer Kuol.
At the time, the minister said the amendments were intended to bring the 2012 Elections Act, as amended in 2023, into conformity with the Transitional Constitution and other relevant legal provisions.
The latest amendment follows Parliament’s consideration of provisions concerning the executive during the election period.
The bill provides for the incumbent president to remain in office with constitutional powers during the elections, while the First Vice President and other Vice Presidents would leave office three months before polling day.
South Sudan is scheduled to hold general elections on December 22, 2026, after years of delays linked to the implementation of the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement and other transitional processes.
The National Elections Commission has confirmed preparations for the December polls, including the use of 102 geographical constituencies.
However, the planned elections remain contested by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) led by First Vice President Riek Machar.
The SPLM-IO has maintained that elections should not proceed under the current circumstances, arguing that key provisions of the 2018 peace agreement remain outstanding.
The opposition group has cited unresolved issues related to implementing the peace agreement, including security arrangements, constitutional processes, and other pending transitional tasks.
The disagreement comes as the government and electoral authorities continue preparations for the December vote, while political parties and other stakeholders remain divided over whether the conditions for credible elections have been met.
The signing of the amended Elections Act therefore marks another legal step in the government’s preparations for the elections, but comes amid continuing political differences over the timing and conditions for the polls.