South Sudan Parliament Passes Constitutional Amendments Ahead of December Elections

JUBA, South Sudan — September 1, 2026

South Sudan’s parliament has passed new constitutional amendments aimed at removing legal obstacles to the general elections scheduled for December 22, 2026.

The Transitional National Legislative Assembly approved Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 13 on Tuesday. Parliament spokesperson Oliver Mori Benjamin said lawmakers passed the amendment unanimously.

The changes separate the election process from two major activities that had previously been linked to elections: completing a permanent constitution and conducting a national population and housing census. This would allow elections to move forward while those processes continue separately.

Tuesday’s sitting was held behind closed doors. Speaker Joseph Paciko Ngere ordered journalists and members of the public to leave the parliamentary premises, citing national security, sovereignty, public order and social stability.

However, lawmakers did not accept every change proposed by the government. Opposition lawmaker Bol Joseph Agau said parliament rejected 13 proposals that would have affected the composition and number of lawmakers in the national legislature.

The constitutional amendment follows earlier changes to the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement. In July, parliament approved amendments removing requirements for a permanent constitution and national census to be completed before elections. President Salva Kiir later signed those peace agreement changes into law.

The new constitutional bill must now go to President Kiir for assent. Under the Transitional Constitution, the president has 30 days to sign the bill or return it to parliament with reasons.

South Sudan is currently preparing to hold general elections on December 22, 2026, a major step for a country that has not held national elections since gaining independence in 2011.