By Deng Machol
JUBA, South Sudan — South Sudan’s National Elections Commission (NEC) has received an additional US$6 million from the government to support civic and voter education activities as preparations intensify for the country’s long-awaited general elections scheduled for December 2026.
The funding comes amid growing pressure on authorities to accelerate election preparations ahead of what is expected to be South Sudan’s first national election since gaining independence in 2011.
Speaking to journalists in Juba on Monday, NEC Chairperson Prof. Abednego Akok Kachuol said the latest allocation will be used to roll out civic and voter education campaigns across the country’s ten states and three administrative areas.
“The government this month gave us six million dollars for civic and voter education. We appreciate and thank the government for the good work they have done for us,” Akok said.
According to the commission, voter awareness activities have already commenced in several parts of the country as efforts intensify to educate citizens on their electoral rights, responsibilities, and participation ahead of voter registration.
Despite the latest disbursement, funding challenges remain significant. The allocation represents only about 2.4 percent of the NEC’s overall election budget. Combined with previous releases, civil society watchdog Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) estimates that the commission has so far received only about 6.4 percent of the total resources required to conduct the elections.
The NEC has yet to publish a detailed breakdown of the funds received to date.
Civil society organizations welcomed the government’s latest contribution but stressed that several critical electoral milestones remain outstanding. The South Sudan Civil Society Alliances described the funding as a positive step toward strengthening electoral preparedness and encouraging informed citizen participation.
“Civic and voter education are critical pillars of credible, transparent and inclusive elections,” the alliance said in a statement, urging authorities to sustain momentum and ensure effective coordination among all electoral stakeholders.
However, major preparations, including voter registration, have yet to begin.
The NEC is expected to publish the official election timetable on June 22, in line with legal requirements mandating that the electoral calendar be released at least six months before polling day.
The commission has already confirmed that the 2026 elections will be conducted using constituency boundaries established during the 2010 elections, following delays in conducting a new national census.
A total of 102 constituencies have been designated across South Sudan’s ten states and three administrative areas.
Akok expressed confidence that preparations are progressing steadily and that the government will continue providing the resources necessary to ensure a successful electoral process.
The December 2026 elections are widely regarded as a defining moment in South Sudan’s democratic journey. The polls are expected to provide citizens with their first opportunity to elect national leaders through the ballot box since independence, following years of postponements and repeated extensions of the country’s transitional political arrangements.
