22/09/2026
๐ฆ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐๐๐ก ๐๐ง ๐ฃ๐ข๐๐๐ง๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐๐ฆ: ๐๐ก๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐ฅ๐๐ก๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐๐ข๐?
As South Sudan enters the final three months ahead of the December elections, security in Juba is on high alert in anticipation of the dissolution of the transitional government says Nhomturuk Media in an exclusive file today Sept 22, 2026 from Juba.
South Sudan Peopleโs Defence Forces spokesperson Maj Gen L*l Ruai Koang said today that security had been heightened as the government was due to be dissolved.
South Sudan Parliament has approved amendments to the National Elections Act, and President Kiir Mayardit has signed it into law within hours of its approval. It instructs how the December polls fit into the timeline for concluding the permanent constitution and taking census. It provides a new framework for the conduct of the elections that are due to take place in December 2026. For South Sudan, it is the end of an era as the country moves from the transitional government to the polls.
The deal known as the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (Rally) established the current system of government in 2018, which created a power-sharing transitional administration. The agreement provided for a period of transition from the start of the polls and the reforms to the national institutions, including the completion of the permanent constitution and census.
The transitional phase has been extended several times since then. However, it seems that the moment of truth is approaching as South Sudan draws close to the day when its government ceases to exist. What will happen on September 22?
The answer lies in the Elections Act. It requires the dissolution of the National Legislative Assembly, the State Legislative Assemblies, and the governments of the States and the Nation within three months of the election declaration. The date of the election has been scheduled for December 22, 2026. Therefore, September 22 is the day that marks the final three-month countdown to the polls.
However, the conflict between the Elections Act and the Rally agreement left many wondering what would happen when the time came to dissolve the government.
The peace deal, which sets out the framework for the transitional administration, must take precedence over the amended Elections Act, according to legal experts. Consequently, the dissolution of the legislative bodies and governments should not be construed as a termination of all other obligations and authorities provided for by the Rally.
According to the amended Elections Act, the President of the Republic shall continue to hold office and exercise his functions until the new President is sworn in after the elections. The First Vice President and the other Presidents of the Republic shall lay down their posts before the end of the three-month period before the elections. This has implications for the powers and functions of the President of the Republic and his deputies in the coming months.
The election clock is ticking
December 22, 2026, will mark South Sudanโs first general elections since independence. The National Elections Commission has set the day as the election date and has been preparing the necessary infrastructure for the polls. However, there are a few issues to consider. The political parties must prepare their campaigns, and the electoral institutions must be ready to conduct the polls. In addition, voters must be registered and educated, votersโ security needs to be guaranteed, and several other factors must be considered in the lead-up to the elections. Meanwhile, the implementation of the peace deal is still a crucial issue in the transition process.
The South Sudan Opposition Alliance accused the government of amending the Elections Act without consulting other Rally stakeholders.
Reuters news agency reports that the alliance alleges that the changes were made unilaterally and without the consensus of all political parties. The next few months will be critical in determining the future of the elections process in South Sudan. They will test whether the country can move from transitional politics to holding credible polls that satisfy the various political interests.
For now, September 22 will be a day to remember for millions of South Sudanese as their country moves to the final phase of the transition process.
Whether it will be a day of celebration depends on how the events of the last three months unfold and whether South Sudan will be able to ensure that the polls are conducted smoothly and that the political transition continues to take place peacefully. South Sudan is entering a pivotal period in its political history.
The transitional government is winding down, the clock is ticking, and the next chapter of the worldโs youngest republic is about to begin.
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