South Sudan Cabinet Approves Elections Act Amendments Ahead of December 2026 Vote

South Sudan Cabinet Approves Elections Act Amendments Ahead of December 2026 Vote

JUBA, South Sudan — September 12, 2026

South Sudan’s Council of Ministers has approved amendments to the country’s National Elections Act 2012, marking another step in preparations for the December 2026 general elections.

The amendments were approved during a Cabinet meeting chaired by President Salva Kiir Mayardit and were presented by Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Dr. Wek Mamer Kuol. According to the government, the changes are intended to update the electoral framework and address provisions needed for the coming elections.

The proposed changes are not yet law. They will now go to South Sudan’s Transitional National Legislative Assembly for consideration and ratification. If approved by lawmakers, they will then be presented to President Kiir for assent.

The latest decision comes as South Sudan election preparations move forward ahead of the planned December vote. The National Elections Commission has already begun training state-level election committees on voter registration. The commission says representatives from all 10 states and the three administrative areas are involved in the preparations.

South Sudan has also recently changed its constitutional framework ahead of the elections. On September 1, parliament passed constitutional amendments separating the election process from completion of the permanent constitution and national population census.

The latest Elections Act amendments are a separate legal step. The government announcement did not provide the full text of the proposed changes or specify every section of the Act being amended, so their detailed effect will become clearer when the legislation reaches parliament.

The National Elections Act is one of the main laws governing elections in South Sudan. The National Elections Commission lists the Act, together with the Transitional Constitution, the Revitalized Peace Agreement and other legislation, as part of the country's electoral legal framework.

With the elections approaching, the progress of the amendments through parliament will be an important part of South Sudan news and politics in the coming weeks.