Funding Stalemate Shadows Preparations
The National Election Commission of South Sudan confirms that no budget has reached its accounts, despite a June directive from President Salva Kiir instructing the Ministry of Finance to release the money (Eye Radio interview).
Chairperson Prof. Abednego Akok told Eye Radio that pre-election tasks now risk delay, barely two and a half years before voters are due at the polls.
Civic Education and Offices Await Cash
Akok said funds are crucial for voter education campaigns and for completing commission offices in every state. At present, six state offices operate; the remaining jurisdictions must be covered before December to maintain the electoral calendar.
Government Directive Still Pending
“Orders from the leadership of the nation should be fulfilled as they are,” the chairperson remarked, signalling confidence that the finance ministry will eventually comply. He declined to speculate on the reasons for the hold-up.
A Decade Without National Elections
South Sudan has not held a general election since its 2011 independence. Polls planned for 2015 collapsed after civil war erupted, and subsequent extensions of presidential and parliamentary terms have been justified by insecurity.
Countdown to December 2026
The commission’s timetable targets voter registration next year and nationwide balloting in December 2026. Timely funding, observers note, will be pivotal for credibility, logistics and peace-building.