South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit
Saturday, 8 August 2026 |Guest Writer | Christopher Mayars | New York | Photo Credit: John Muchucha/AP |
South Sudan has rejected growing concerns over its readiness to hold elections in December, telling the United Nations Security Council that persistent insecurity, economic hardship and political tensions remain manageable.
Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Sabino Nyawella Amaikwey said the government remains committed to holding the elections as scheduled and ensuring South Sudanese citizens have an opportunity to choose their leaders.
“While challenges remain, we are confident that they are manageable through continued national efforts and cooperation with our regional and international partners,” Nyawella told the council.
His remarks came as UN officials and South Sudan’s peace monitors warned that critical political, security and institutional conditions needed for credible, peaceful and inclusive elections remain unmet.
Nyawella identified armed violence, economic constraints and international sanctions as the main obstacles to the electoral process.
“The principal obstacles are well known: continued insecurity caused by armed groups, severe economic constraints exacerbated by the sanctions regime, and the need for greater clarity regarding the benchmarks for lifting those measures,” he said.
The government also dismissed calls for the elections to be delayed because South Sudan has not completed a national census or adopted a permanent constitution.
Nyawella argued that neither is a legal prerequisite for holding elections, saying the immediate priority was to establish a credible voter register.
“We are fully aware that the national census, which is very important for long-term planning, is not a prerequisite for elections and could not hold such an important process hostage,” he said.
South Sudan’s parliament recently amended provisions of the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement to remove the completion of a permanent constitution and population census as conditions for holding elections. The move has drawn criticism from opposition groups and some international partners.
Political tensions remain
The government also defended changes to the implementation of the peace agreement, rejecting accusations that it had acted unilaterally.
Nyawella said prolonged political delays could not indefinitely prevent implementation of an agreement intended to benefit the entire country.
“The temporary absence of certain leaders—whether by choice or because they are subject to legal processes—cannot indefinitely suspend implementation of an agreement intended to benefit the entire nation,” he said.
His remarks come amid continuing political uncertainty surrounding First Vice President Riek Machar, whose detention and ongoing trial have deepened divisions among the parties to the peace agreement.
Machar was arrested in March 2025, triggering renewed concerns among regional and international partners over the future of the fragile peace process.
Government challenges UN report
South Sudan also criticised aspects of the UN Secretary-General’s latest report, urging future reporting to rely on what it described as verified facts and balanced analysis.
Nyawella objected to the description of some armed groups as “armed youths”, arguing that organised groups such as the White Army should be identified consistently where evidence supports such classifications.
He also rejected allegations that the government was deliberately obstructing the work of the UN Mission in South Sudan, UNMISS.
According to Nyawella, restrictions on UN movement in some insecure areas were intended to protect UN personnel rather than prevent the mission from carrying out its mandate.
He attributed some operational difficulties to capacity constraints, which he said had been worsened by international sanctions.
Election credibility under scrutiny
Despite the government’s assurances, the UN, the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, opposition parties and civil society groups continue to warn that major obstacles could undermine the credibility of the December elections.
Concerns include insecurity, political tensions, implementation of the peace agreement, electoral preparations and the ability of state institutions to guarantee a peaceful and inclusive vote.
The government, however, maintains that South Sudan can overcome the remaining challenges and transition from transitional rule to an elected government.
Nyawella reaffirmed Juba’s commitment to working with the UN, African Union, IGAD and other partners to implement the peace agreement and prepare for the elections.
“The people of South Sudan deserve peace, stability, and the opportunity to determine their future through democratic means,” he said. “That remains our unwavering commitment.”
With the December elections approaching, South Sudan faces a widening gap between government assurances that the vote remains achievable and international warnings that crucial conditions for a credible election have yet to be secured.
