South Sudan’s election commission has called on political parties and citizens to help ensure a peaceful election in December.
The National Elections Commission made the appeal as the country prepares for general elections on December 22.
The vote is expected to be South Sudan’s first national election since independence in 2011.
South Sudan election commission calls for peace
Gabriel Bol Deng Majok, chairperson of the National Elections Commission, urged politicians to pursue their goals through voting rather than violence.
He called on political parties and citizens to support a peaceful electoral process.
The commission said preparations for the election are underway.
Officials are preparing for voter registration after approving forms and assessing registration centres across the country.
The commission also presented voting cards during a briefing in Juba.
South Sudan prepares for December election
The election is scheduled for December 22, 2026.
The National Elections Commission is responsible for organising the vote. Its duties include voter registration, candidate nominations and election administration.
South Sudan has not held a national election since gaining independence in 2011.
Previous plans for elections faced repeated delays.
Meanwhile, the commission says preparations are moving forward with less than three months remaining before the scheduled vote.
Kiir dissolves transitional government
The election preparations come after President Salva Kiir dissolved the transitional government.
The move ended the power-sharing arrangement established under the 2018 peace agreement and came ahead of the scheduled December vote.
The transitional arrangements followed years of conflict in South Sudan.
However, several parts of the peace process have faced delays since the agreement was signed.
The election commission is now urging political leaders and citizens to support a peaceful electoral process as the country approaches the December vote.