President Salva Kiir Mayardit has directed an extension of the current session of South Sudan’s parliament to allow lawmakers to handle urgent national matters, including the national budget.
Kiir issued the directive during a meeting Monday with the speakers of the National Assembly, Jemma Nunu Kumba, and the Council of States, Mary Ayen Mijok.
Under the parliament’s Conduct of Business Regulations, the Speaker, after consulting the president, can declare recess and set a return date. Lawmakers can also be recalled at any time to address urgent business.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Speaker Nunu Kumba said lawmakers will take a break for the Christmas holidays and are scheduled to return on Jan. 5, 2026.
“So our meeting was mainly to consult with the president on whether to go for recess or extend the session,” Nunu said.
“Accordingly, due to some important national duties, including the budget, the president has directed that the session be extended so that we can handle these national issues. However, Parliament will break for Christmas in accordance with the public holiday schedule and return on Jan. 5. We will continue with the important issues at hand, and thereafter may break for recess,” she added.
South Sudan’s parliament has not yet passed the 2025/2026 budget and the amendments to the 2018 peace agreement, including provisions that remove links between the 2026 elections and a population census, permanent construction process, and other reforms stipulated in the peace deal.
The country’s bicameral legislature has 650 members, including 550 in the lower house, the Transitional National Legislative Assembly, and 100 in the upper house, the Council of States.
Under the terms of the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement, the National Legislature includes representatives from the ruling SPLM party, opposition groups including SPLM-IO, SSOA, other parties, and former detainees.