JUBA — South Sudan’s National Elections Commission (NEC) has confirmed that it will use the geographical constituency boundaries established during the 2010 general elections for the country’s upcoming national polls scheduled for December 2026.
The announcement was made on Monday during a press conference in Juba, where NEC Chairperson Professor Abednego Akok Kacuol said a total of 102 constituencies have been declared nationwide in line with the National Elections Act.
“In accordance with the National Elections Act, the NEC hereby declares the 102 constituencies in alignment with the ten states and three administrative areas,” Akok said in a press release following the briefing.
According to the NEC, the constituencies are distributed as follows:
- Central Equatoria State: 14
- Eastern Equatoria State: 11
- Western Equatoria State: 8
- Jonglei State & Greater Pibor Administrative Area: 17
- Unity State & Ruweng Administrative Area: 7
- Upper Nile State: 12
- Lakes State: 8
- Northern Bahr el Ghazal State: 9
- Western Bahr el Ghazal State: 4
- Warrap State & Abyei Administrative Area: 12
Jonglei State and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area have the highest number of constituencies, while Western Bahr el Ghazal State has the lowest.
Professor Akok said the commission will soon publish detailed names and descriptions of each constituency through official NEC channels, including its website and print media. He explained that this process is required under Section 41(1)(g) of the National Elections Act, which mandates the formal gazettement of constituency boundaries before elections.
He urged political parties, civil society organizations, and the general public to rely solely on official NEC publications for accurate and up-to-date information as preparations for the 2026 elections continue.
The announcement comes amid renewed focus on electoral preparedness as South Sudan plans to hold its first national elections since independence, following years of postponements caused by political disagreements, insecurity, and logistical constraints.
The decision also formalizes a recent agreement by parties to the Revitalized Peace Agreement to proceed with elections without completing a permanent constitution or conducting a general population census—both considered key elements of credible elections.
With the polls already delayed several times, the government says it is under pressure to meet the 2026 deadline amid criticism from Western governments and the main opposition party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO), led by detained First Vice President Riek Machar.
