2026 South Sudanese general election

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2026 South Sudanese general election
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←  2010 22 December 2026
Presidential election
  President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama greet His Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan (cropped).jpg 3x4.svg
Nominee Salva Kiir Mayardit Bol Gai Deng
Party SPLM KDMP
Incumbent President

Salva Kiir Mayardit
SPLM



General elections are due to be held in South Sudan on 22 December 2026, the first since independence.

Contents

Initially scheduled to be held by 9 July 2015, [1] [2] in light of an alleged coup d'état attempt and continuing conflict in the country this was thrown into doubt, especially since no permanent constitution had been formulated. The South Sudan parliament voted in April 2015 to amend the country's transitional 2011 constitution to extend the presidential and parliamentary term until 9 July 2018, with 264 members in favour and a handful opposing it. [3] It was postponed again to 2021 in July 2018. [4] Following the peace agreement that ended the civil war, a transitional period of three years was agreed on, which would be followed by elections in 2023. [5] In 2022, the transitional government and opposition agreed to move it to late 2024. [6] [7] In September 2024, the government ordered the elections to be postponed until 22 December 2026, citing the need to complete institutional processes such the creation of a census and a permanent constitution and the registration of political parties. [8]

Background

Following the independence of South Sudan, Riek Machar was inaugurated as the first vice president to President Salva Kiir. In July 2013, the entire cabinet, including Machar, was dismissed by Kiir on the ostensible reason to decrease the size of government. However, Machar said that this was a step towards dictatorship on the part of Kiir and that he would seek to challenge Kiir for the presidency. [9] In December 2013 a related coup d'état was put down. While civil war ensued, at the end of September 2014 an Intergovernmental Authority on Development-mediated resolution was agreed upon that would lead to the federalisation of the country's governance.

The transitional constitution required the election to be held by 9 July 2015, the date on which the first post-independence presidential term ends. [1] Kiir told the Warrap parliament that a lack of funds to conduct a census and complete the new constitution could result in a delay of the election. This caused doubts as to Kiir's intention to merely hold on to power and was coupled with the dismissal of the Governor of Unity Taban Deng Gai on allegation that he would back Machar in replacing Kiir as the SPLM chairperson and therefore the party’s candidate for the election, though Gai denied this. [1] Since the coup, John Garang's son also mentioned that as the constitutional convention could not write a permanent constitution of South Sudan, the scheduled 2015 date for the election would not be met. [10]

Additionally, the U.S. envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, Donald Booth, held talks with the chairperson of the National Elections Commission, Abednego Akok Kacuol, and the chairperson of the National Bureau of Statistics, Isaiah Chol Aruai, in order to call for sticking to the allotted date and the provision of funds to complete the necessary prerequisites. [2]

The South Sudan parliament voted in April 2015 to amend the country's transitional 2011 constitution to extend the presidential and parliamentary term until 9 July 2018. [3]

Electoral system

The President of South Sudan is elected via the two-round system. If no candidate obtains over half of valid votes cast, another round must be held within 60 days between the two candidates that obtained the most votes. To be eligible for election, a candidate must be a South Sudanese citizen by birth, be "of sound mind", be 40 years of age or older, be literate, and not have been convicted of a criminal offence involving "fraud, dishonesty, or moral turpitude". They must also obtain signatures from 10,000 voters across at least seven states, with at least 200 voters from each state. The same applies for the election of Governors, except only 5,000 voters from at least half of that state's counties (with at least 100 voters from each county) are required.

The 332 members of the National Legislative Assembly shall be comprised in the following manner:

As such, each voter will be given three ballots (one for their constituency, one of women's party lists, and one of general party lists). To be eligible for proportional representation seats, a list must obtain at least 4% of valid votes.

The members of the Council of States are indirectly elected, with each state's legislative assembly appointing five members and each administrative area's legislative council appointing two members.

State legislative assemblies are elected in a similar manner to the National Legislative Assembly, without any appointed seats:

Each candidate (in the case of single-member elections) and party (in the case of party-list elections) is allocated their own electoral symbol, and independent candidates are allowed to stand as long as they have not been a member of a political party for at least three months prior to the election. [11] [12]

Presidential candidates

Announced

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "S. Sudan's Kiir admits 2015 elections may be delayed". Sudan Tribune. Archived from the original on 7 March 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  2. 1 2 "US envoy urges South Sudan to prepare for 2015 elections". Sudan Tribune. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  3. 1 2 South Sudan parliament extends president's term by 3 years Reuters, 24 March 2015
  4. ↑ @samirasawlani (12 July 2018). "South Sudan: Parliament today voted to extend President Kiir's current term to August 2021- it was meant to end Aug…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  5. ↑ South Sudan parties agree to form interim government by November 12
  6. ↑ "South Sudan again delays its 1st election, until late 2024". AP News. 4 August 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  7. ↑ "South Sudan electoral body announces election date". Sudan Tribune. 7 July 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  8. ↑ "South Sudan postpones December elections by 2 years citing incomplete preparations". Associated Press. 14 September 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  9. ↑ "South Sudan gripped by power struggle". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  10. ↑ Garang’s son blames President Kiir for conflict New Vision, 23 December 2013
  11. ↑ The National Elections Act, 2012
  12. ↑ The National Elections Act, 2012 (Amendment) Act, 2023
  13. ↑ "South Sudan's Kiir to run in first-ever presidential election". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  14. ↑ "South Sudan president says he will be a candidate in long-delayed elections set for 2024". AP News. 5 July 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  15. ↑ Bol Gai Deng, Presidential Candidate for South Sudan Kush Democratic Majority Party
  16. ↑ Ninrew, Chany (9 April 2023). "Mayen Majongdit declares candidacy for S. Sudan president". Eye Radio. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  17. ↑ Ninrew, Chany (17 July 2023). "Mayen Majongdit reaffirms intention to run for J1". Eye Radio. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  18. ↑ Joshua, Elvince (9 April 2023). "Peter Mayen to 'run' for Presidency". The City Review South Sudan. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  19. ↑ "Mayen reaffirms intention to run for president, says SPLM 'has never been honest'". Sudans Post. 17 July 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  20. ↑ "Common People's Alliance leader dispels briefcase party claims". Radio Tamazuj. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  21. ↑ Ninrew, Chany (19 September 2023). "Ex-Red Army Foundation boss Deng Aruei intends to run for president". Eye Radio. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
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