By: Ginaba Lino
Political leaders in South Sudan have reached a consensus that the nation’s transitional period will not be extended. They have formally recommitted to holding the country’s national general elections on December 22, 2026.
This decision was made public in an official communiqué. The statement was delivered by Minister of Presidential Affairs Africano Mande Gedima after an expanded meeting of the Presidency. The meeting included leaders from all parties to the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCISS).
According to the released communiqué, the parties have agreed to form a dedicated committee. This committee’s mandate is to address unresolved issues within the peace agreement, focusing particularly on those critical to the election roadmap. It will also propose amendments to key parts of the R-ARCISS and the transitional constitution that are necessary before the 2026 vote.
A separate committee will be established to draft these proposed amendments. This group will then present them to the leadership of all signatory parties to ensure unified and coordinated election preparations. The represented parties include SPLM-IG, SPLM-IO, SSOA, FDs, and OPP.
To foster a stable political climate ahead of the elections, the leaders agreed that any disputes related to the electoral process should be settled through peaceful dialogue. They also directed the immediate finalization of all transitional security arrangements detailed in Chapter Two of the peace agreement, labeling these steps as essential for a peaceful election environment.
The communiqué listed several important national tasks, such as drafting a permanent constitution and conducting a national population census, as priorities to be addressed after the 2026 elections.
Furthermore, the meeting instructed the Minister of Finance and Planning to allocate and release the necessary funds to ensure all election-related activities are carried out on schedule.
The political leaders stressed their shared determination to guide South Sudan toward its first national elections since gaining independence, highlighting a unified pledge to complete the political transition as planned.
This report is based on information from the original source. Full credit for the reporting goes to the Catholic Radio Network. For the complete details and original context, please visit the source article: South Sudan Leaders Affirm No Further Extension of Transitional Period, Commit to 2026 Elections – Catholic Radio Network.