Archive · 23 Sep 2026
South Sudan Moves Ahead With Election Law Changes, Vote
South Sudan changed its election law to make holding elections easier.
The changes remove rules requiring a permanent constitution and a national census before voting.
The government says this can help elections happen on December 22.
This would be South Sudan’s first general election since it became independent in 2011.
The main opposition coalition says it was not properly consulted about the changes.
The current leaders will keep their powers until a new president takes office.
The law also reduces the number of seats in national and state assemblies.
Kiir’s rival Riek Machar remains under house arrest and is on trial, though he denies the charges.
Voter registration has not started, and a civil society leader urged politicians to resolve disagreements peacefully.
One report said Kiir signed the amendments late Monday, while another said he signed them Tuesday and also dissolved the transitional government.
President Salva Kiir signed amendments removing requirements to complete a permanent constitution and national census before elections.
The changes are intended to clear the way for general elections scheduled for December 22, South Sudan’s first since independence in 2011.
The South Sudan Opposition Alliance rejected the amendments, saying parties to the 2018 peace agreement were not adequately consulted.
The amended law keeps the incumbent executive leadership in office with full constitutional powers until a newly elected president takes office.
The law reduces national assembly seats to 270 from 650 and state assembly seats to 58 from 100, while voter registration has not begun.
- Who
- South Sudan President Salva Kiir, the government, the South Sudan Opposition Alliance, and opposition leader Riek Machar.
- What
- Kiir signed amendments to the National Elections Act of 2012 and, according to one report, dissolved the transitional government.
- When
- The actions were reported on September 22; elections are scheduled for December 22. Reports differed on whether the amendments were signed late Monday or Tuesday.
- Where
- South Sudan.
- Why
- The government says the amendments align election law with the transitional constitution and remove requirements tied to completing a permanent constitution and national census.
Government Rationale
Opposition Concerns
Removing election requirements
Government Rationale
The government says the amendments align the election law with the transitional constitution and remove provisions that made elections contingent on completing a permanent constitution and national census.
Opposition Concerns
The South Sudan Opposition Alliance rejected the changes, saying the parties to the 2018 peace agreement were not adequately consulted.
Continuing executive authority
Government Rationale
The amended law keeps the incumbent executive leadership in office with full constitutional powers through the election period, until a newly elected president takes office.
Opposition Concerns
The opposition and civil society face a politically tense transition, including repeated election delays, Riek Machar’s house arrest and trial, and concerns that disagreements could lead to renewed conflict.
- Scheduled election date
- December 22
- Election significance
- The vote would be South Sudan’s first general election since independence in 2011.
- Removed conditions
- Elections no longer depend on completing a permanent constitution and national census.
- National assembly
- The National Legislative Assembly will have 270 members, down from 650.
- State assemblies
- State assemblies will have 58 members, down from 100.
- Voter registration
- Voter registration had not begun when the amendments were passed and signed.
- Reported government change
- One Reuters report said Kiir dissolved the transitional government as required under the electoral process.