Western Bahr el-Ghazal State Electoral Commission Chairperson Arkangelo Udo Agany has said the first phase of 2026 General Election had started with the renovation of the commission’s office despite challenges.
Last month, South Sudan’s transitional government postponed the December 2024 general elections until December 2026, citing a lack of preparedness.
This is the second time the country, which gained independence in 2011, is postponing elections and extending a transitional period that started in February 2020.
In an interview with Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday, Agany said the renovation was one of the major challenges facing the commission.
His role, he said, is to oversee all the challenges and bring them to light to ensure the election processes are in place.
“My role is to oversee all the challenges that face the election commission but we have started to address them,” said Agany.
“We are renovating the office and when we finish, and the election calendar is approved by the National Assembly, we will wait the directive from the head office in Juba and decide on civic education,” he said.
“Voter education and the determination of the constituency borders will follow but, we cannot do anything without a budget,” said Agany.
He disclosed that the commission also lacked office equipment and vehicles.
Agany said the commission was working closely with partners to ensure that any willing countries offer their support.
He also said the cancellation of the elections this year had an impact on the people’s expectations, but the commission was working hard to restore their hopes.
The commission office currently has five members but requires additional appointments as the election period approaches.
Agany disclosed that since his appointment as the state chairperson for the commission, the national electoral commission had not released any budget for the operations.
“I receive nothing from the national elections commission because the budget is still in the National Assembly in Juba,” he said.
