U.S. Says South Sudan Should Decide Its Election Path but Must Ensure Peace

JUBA, South Sudan — August 31, 2026

The United States has said decisions about the timing and scope of South Sudan’s elections belong to South Sudanese authorities, while stressing that any election should take place peacefully and be financed using the country’s own public resources.

The position was announced by the U.S. Embassy in Juba on Monday, following recent comments by members of South Sudan’s transitional government about U.S. policy toward the elections. Multiple South Sudanese outlets reported the embassy statement on Monday.

The embassy said Washington does not seek to impose a political or ideological system on South Sudan. It emphasized that decisions about when elections are held and their scope are sovereign matters for South Sudanese to determine.

However, the United States also set out expectations if the government proceeds with elections. It said South Sudan’s leaders should ensure peaceful conditions and finance the electoral process using the country’s public resources.

The statement did not endorse or reject the government’s planned December 2026 elections. It also did not say that all conditions required for a credible election have been achieved.

South Sudan’s government has continued to state that it intends to hold elections in December. Cabinet Affairs Minister Martin Elia Lomuro reaffirmed that commitment during talks with an African Union pre-election assessment mission in August.

Preparations are already underway. In June, the National Elections Commission announced that it had received an additional US$6 million from the government for civic and voter education activities.

However, election institutions have also warned that funding shortages and insecurity could affect preparations for the vote.

If held as planned, the election would mark a major political milestone for South Sudan, which has not held a national election since becoming independent in 2011.