African Union Urges Donors to Fund South Sudan Elections

The African Union has urged member states, international partners and donors to help close a funding gap for South Sudans planned December elections, setting October as a deadline for submitting concrete contributions to the AU Commission. The appeal comes as South Sudans National Elections Commission (NEC) estimates that about $250 million is needed to conduct the elections, while the government has so far provided about $27 million. The government initially released $21 million for election preparations and later provided an additional $6 million for civic and voter education. But the AU appeal for donor support comes against the backdrop of a different position from Washington. The United States said on Aug. 31 that if South Sudan proceeds with elections, they should be held peacefully and financed from the countrys own public resources. The contrasting positions highlight the financial and political challenges facing South Sudan as it prepares for elections scheduled for Dec. 22, its first general vote since independence in 2011. In a communiqué adopted on Aug. 26 and released on Wednesday, the AU Peace and Security Council expressed concern over significant funding and administrative shortfalls facing the countrys electoral bodies. It called on the transitional government to urgently provide predictable domestic funding to the NEC, National Constitutional Review Commission and Political Parties Council. The council also called for the publication of a realistic, consensual electoral roadmap and appealed to AU member states, international partners and donors in a position to do so to close the election funding gap by submitting their concrete contributions to the AU Commission by October. The NEC has said funding remains one of its main challenges. The commission launched nationwide civic and voter education in June after receiving the additional $6 million from the government. The AU said credible elections would require sufficient political consensus, inclusivity, an open civic space, citizen security, effective dispute-resolution mechanisms and full participation by women, youth and displaced populations. It also expressed deep concern over South Sudans deteriorating political and security situation, citing persistent disagreements among signatories to the 2018 peace agreement, the failure to convene a planned inter-party dialogue and armed confrontations in Jonglei, Upper Nile and other areas. The council reiterated that the transitional mandate must end in February 2027 without further extension. The AU urged the transitional government and all signatories to the peace agreement to resume direct political dialogue without preconditions, with support from the AU, its High-Level Ad Hoc Committee for South Sudan and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. It also demanded an immediate cessation of hostilities and military mobilisation, saying there was no military solution to South Sudans political disputes. The council condemned an Aug. 24 ambush in Jonglei State that killed two Ethiopian U.N. peacekeepers and wounded seven others, and urged South Sudanese authorities to investigate the attack and hold those responsible accountable. It further warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis driven by insecurity, economic instability and climate shocks, and appealed for increased international financial, technical and material assistance. The AU said it would hold a dedicated session on electoral preparedness in October and asked its Commission to submit a detailed assessment of South Sudans readiness for the vote.