The South Sudan special administrative areas are reporting concerns over little or no preparations for the General Election that was postponed to 2026.
The authorities and citizens in Abyei, Ruweng and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) say the 2026 poll may not be possible in their jurisdictions unless proper preparations were made.
The National Election Commission (NEC), they say, was yet to name the local election chairpersons and initiate the preparation activities.
The Abyei Special Administrative Areas (ASAA) Deputy Chief Administrator, Deng Arop, told Radio Tamazuj on Monday that though the area’s electoral office was ready, the commission was yet to name the chairperson.
Arop added that they had received instructions from the national government to nominate three persons with none suggested for the chairperson position.
“The Abyei chairperson of high committee for election is yet to be appointed yet the national commission received the names of the nominees four months ago and the elections office is ready,” he said.
Arop reiterated that an election is a process and if a date is declared abruptly, may not be possible.
“I don’t think the election will happen though the Abyei electoral office is in place. It needs time because the total population is not known and there is no voter education going on,” he said.
His Ruweng counterpart James Hang said they were waiting for the national office to appoint the local officials.
“I am 14 days in office but the chairperson of the Ruweng electoral commission is yet to be appointed. I will check the correspondents between Ruweng and Juba,” he said.
“Our people are ready for election but there are things which must be done before a credible poll can be held,” Hang stated.
In GPAA, there was concern over the lack of an electoral office to prepare the people for the 2026 poll.
The majority of those who spoke to Radio Tamazuj questioned why no pre-election activities were taking place in their area.
Nyany Korok, a local youth leader in Pibor, said that while they welcomed the government’s decision to postpone the election for two years, no preparations were taking place yet.
“Elections which were supposed to take place this year have been pushed to 2026. We welcome the extension because the current environment is not conducive for any polls. Insecurity is all over. However, no electoral body has been established in Pibor and we are not seeing any election activities,” he said.
Pochalla resident John Okwier said they were aware of the recent extension of the government but an election may not be possible in two years.
“We are getting our election information from the independent media. We are aware that elections were extended until 2026 for the government to prepare. However, nothing related to the elections has taken place here, except for a campaign rally by the SPLM a few months ago,” he said.
GPAA Information Minister Oleyo Akwer Nyalus said they felt neglected.
“Electoral bodies have been established in 10 states but none in the administrative areas.
“In Pibor, we have yet to receive direction from Juba on the election roadmap. Officials and the locals are only getting information in workshops,” he said.
He appealed to the electoral body to institute the pre-election activities and extend them to Pibor.
On Wednesday, the United States, Britain and Norway urged South Sudan to prioritize the publication of a credible election timetable and commence voter registration as an essential first step.
The three nations, known as the Troika, expressed the sentiments in a press release following their meeting in the Norwegian capital, Oslo, in which they reaffirmed their profound disappointment with the decision of the Government of South Sudan to extend its transitional status.