2026 election preparations at risk as funding delays persist

JUBA – Calls are mounting for the government to urgently release funds to institutions responsible for preparing South Sudan’s general elections scheduled for December 2026, amid concerns that delays in financing could derail key electoral processes.

Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation (CEPO), on Wednesday urged the Ministry of Finance and Planning to immediately allocate resources to bodies tasked with overseeing the country’s electoral preparations.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Yakani warned that the slow disbursement of funds is already affecting critical activities required to ensure that the elections take place as planned.

“Lack of funding has delayed the country’s preparations for the elections set for December 2026. The Minister of Finance needs to urgently allocate money to the National Election Commission and other institutions involved in electoral matters, such as the National Constitutional Review Commission and the Political Parties Council,” he said.

According to Yakani, adequate financial support is essential for the institutions responsible for the electoral process to accelerate their work and establish the conditions necessary for credible and timely elections.

“This funding is essential for them to collectively accelerate their efforts in creating a conducive environment for conducting the elections by December 2026,” he added.

He cautioned that continued delays in financing key institutions—including the National Elections Commission, the National Constitutional Review Commission and the Political Parties Council—are hindering activities that are fundamental to organizing a credible national vote.

“Without the necessary funds provided to the National Election Commission and other institutions with electoral mandates, there is a real likelihood that the country will not hold elections,” he said.

Yakani also revealed findings from a domestic pre-election observation report covering the period between January and March 2026. The report, which assessed the country’s preparedness for the upcoming polls, indicates that time is rapidly running out for the successful organization of the elections scheduled for December.

According to the report, the National Election Commission has so far received only four percent of the total budget required to organize the polls, raising serious concerns about the pace of preparations.

Yakani further alleged that some influential political figures close to the presidency may not be interested in seeing the elections take place.

“We have influential political leaders close to the president who do not want to see the country move forward with elections,” he said.

He claimed that some of these actors are allegedly fueling ongoing conflicts involving the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO), and other armed groups. According to him, such actions could contribute to political instability and undermine the environment necessary for credible elections.

Yakani also warned of the possibility that the current transitional period could be extended once again, despite earlier assurances from political leaders that the December 2026 elections would not be postponed.

He emphasized that the country’s readiness to conduct elections largely depends on the timely release of funds to the institutions mandated to oversee the electoral process.

“The readiness of the country to conduct elections in December 2026 is heavily dependent on adequate allocation of funding to the National Election Commission,” he said.

Yakani urged the government to ensure that the necessary resources are allocated within March 2026 in order to prevent further delays and keep the electoral timeline on track.