‘Be ready to exercise your rights,’ NEC tells citizens amid $6 million funding boost

JUBA – South Sudan’s National Elections Commission (NEC) has urged citizens to prepare to exercise their democratic rights as the country moves closer to its first elections since independence, announcing that the government has released $6 million to support voter registration and civic education activities.

Addressing journalists in Juba on Monday, NEC Chairperson Prof. Abednego Akok Kacuol said preparations for the December 2026 elections are underway and called on South Sudanese to get ready to participate in the electoral process.

“The public is hereby informed that preparations for the elections are underway. Citizens are encouraged to be ready to exercise their sovereign right, as power ultimately rests with the voters,” Prof. Akok said.

The election body revealed that the government has released $5 million for civic and voter education programmes and an additional $1 million to establish infrastructure needed for voter registration across the country.

“Furthermore, the Government has also just released USD $5 million for NEC Civic and Voter Education (CVI) and additional $1 million for voter registration to lay infrastructures for the voter registration,” Akok said.

As part of the preparations, members of the State High Elections Committees (SHECs) have been directed to assess voter registration centres nationwide ahead of the launch of the registration exercise.

According to the commission, the next major activities on the electoral calendar will be the rollout of a nationwide civic and voter education campaign and the commencement of voter registration.

“The NEC’s key upcoming activities include the launch of nationwide civic and voter education programme; the implementation of voter registration. These steps are essential to ensure that every eligible citizen can participate meaningfully in the elections,” Akok said.

The NEC, however, cautioned that some aspects of the electoral process will require additional political and legal decisions as well as sustained funding.

“Noting that for many of these activities to commence, political and legal clarity is required, as well as adequate funding,” he said.

The commission also welcomed the government’s purchase of the former Aida International Hotel building in Juba, which will become the NEC’s permanent headquarters.

Akok described the acquisition as an important investment in the country’s democratic institutions, saying “the establishment of permanent NEC offices lays a positive foundation for South Sudan’s future democratic processes.”

In his remarks, the NEC chairperson called on citizens across the country to actively participate in what could become South Sudan’s first democratic elections since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011.

“In conclusion, the commission urges all South Sudan citizens to actively prepare and participate in their first democratic elections since independence and to adhere strictly to all electoral principles,” he said.

He added that the commission remains committed to organizing elections that are “peaceful, transparent, independent, inclusive, and credible” and that reflect “the true will of the electorate.”

South Sudan is preparing for elections scheduled for December 2026 under the revitalized peace agreement. The vote is expected to mark a major milestone in the country’s transition from a power-sharing arrangement to an elected government. However, key political and security challenges remain ahead of the polls.