South Sudan: Kiir Enacts Peace Deal Amendment, Paving Way for December 2026 Elections

President Salva Kiir Mayardit has officially signed an amendment to the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement into law.

This move eliminates previous legal requirements that tied South Sudan’s national elections to the completion of the permanent constitution-making process and the national population census.

The presidential approval, which was announced by the Office of the President on Wednesday, brings the amendment into immediate effect.

It establishes the necessary legal foundation for holding the country’s planned national elections in December 2026.

According to the government, the change will enable electoral preparations to move forward based on the Transitional Constitution and current electoral laws, even as other transitional tasks continue in parallel.

The updated provisions remove earlier clauses that made elections dependent on finalizing the permanent constitution and conducting a national census.

Officials argue that decoupling these processes will help ensure elections take place within the established timeline.

The amendment was previously approved by South Sudan’s Transitional National Legislature through Resolution Number 05 of 2026, before being forwarded to the president for his signature.

Following the signing, authorities indicated that the next phase involves aligning the Transitional Constitution and the National Elections Act with the new changes.

The Ministries of Presidential Affairs and Justice and Constitutional Affairs are expected to oversee this implementation.

The presidency hailed the development as a major step forward in carrying out the Revitalized Peace Agreement. It also underscored the government’s dedication to organizing peaceful, credible, and constitutionally sound elections in December 2026.

This amendment arrives as South Sudan gears up for its first national elections since gaining independence.

The country has faced repeated delays due to past conflicts and difficulties in fulfilling key elements of the 2018 peace accord.

International partners have closely followed the electoral preparations and have stressed the importance of conducting any modifications to the peace agreement through inclusive, transparent processes that involve all signatories and relevant stakeholders.

Although the government views the amendment as a barrier removed for timely polls, international observers have highlighted that the overall credibility of the elections will hinge on comprehensive readiness.

This includes broader political inclusion, security measures, electoral reforms, advancements on the constitutional front, and full respect for civic liberties.

With the amendment now in place, the focus shifts to relevant institutions to turn the updated legal framework into concrete actions for the December 2026 vote.