JUBA – South Sudan’s parliament has approved amendments to key provisions of the country’s 2018 peace agreement, removing requirements that a national population census be conducted and a permanent constitution adopted before elections can take place.
The changes are intended to accelerate preparations for South Sudan’s first-ever general election, which the government has scheduled for December 22, 2026.
Lawmakers voted in favor of the amendments following government arguments that the original conditions could delay the electoral process and undermine efforts to transition the country toward democratic governance. Officials said the reforms would allow electoral institutions to focus on practical preparations, including voter registration, constituency arrangements, and logistical planning.
The Revitalized Peace Agreement, signed in 2018, ended a five-year civil war that killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions. The accord established a transitional government led by President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar, with the goal of guiding the country toward elections and long-term stability.
Under the original framework, elections were to be preceded by a nationwide census and the adoption of a permanent constitution. However, repeated delays in implementing key provisions of the agreement have raised concerns that those benchmarks would be difficult to achieve before the planned vote.
Government officials defended the amendments, arguing that the absence of a completed census or finalized constitution should not prevent citizens from exercising their democratic right to elect their leaders.
Supporters of the move say the changes provide a realistic pathway toward holding elections after years of postponements and political uncertainty. They argue that waiting for all transitional benchmarks to be completed could further delay the country’s democratic transition.
Critics, however, have expressed concern that conducting elections without a census and a permanent constitutional framework could create disputes over representation, electoral boundaries, and the credibility of the process. Opposition figures and civil society groups have repeatedly called for broader political reforms and stronger institutional safeguards before voting takes place.
South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, gained independence from Sudan in 2011 but soon descended into conflict following political disputes between rival factions. Despite the peace agreement, implementation of reforms has progressed slowly, with challenges including security sector unification, constitutional reform, and preparations for elections.
The December 2026 vote is expected to be a major test of the country’s fragile peace process. Regional and international partners, including the African Union, the United Nations, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), have continued to urge South Sudanese leaders to ensure that elections are inclusive, peaceful, and credible.
With the latest amendments approved, authorities are expected to intensify preparations for the polls, which would mark the first time South Sudanese voters directly elect their national leaders since the country’s independence.
