Civil society forum says South Sudan not ready for December polls, calls for dialogue

The South Sudan Civil Society Forum (SSCSF) says current conditions do not support the conduct of credible, peaceful and inclusive general elections scheduled for December 22, 2026, and has called for an urgent dialogue on electoral preparedness and the country’s political transition. In a press release issued on Wednesday, October 28, following a consultative meeting held in Juba on October 22 and 23, the Forum said key preparations remained outstanding less than two months before the scheduled polls. “The Forum concludes that current conditions do not support the conduct of fair, credible, peaceful, inclusive and legitimate democratic elections within the remaining timeframe,” the statement said. The meeting brought together representatives of civil society, youth, women, academia and faith groups to assess the country’s readiness for the elections.

The Forum cited outstanding preparations, including the electoral calendar, voter registration, civic education, candidate nominations, procurement of electoral materials and logistical arrangements. It said these challenges were compounded by restricted civic, political and media space, persistent insecurity, difficult terrain, accessibility constraints and a lack of demonstrated political leadership. “Elections held without adequate preparations risk eroding public confidence, deepening divisions and setting back the transition they are meant to complete,” the statement said. The Forum called on the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), in consultation with parties to the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), holdout groups, the caretaker government and other stakeholders, to convene an inclusive dialogue on electoral preparedness. It said…