South Sudan: USAP Legal Affairs Secretary Calls for Electoral Body Reconstitution

The United Sudan African Party (USAP) has called for the reconstitution of South Sudan’s National Elections Commission (NEC) and Political Parties Council (PPC) through an inclusive and consultative process ahead of the country’s scheduled elections in December. Bullen Isaiah Kulang Mabor, USAP secretary for legal affairs, made the call on Tuesday during the ongoing Inter-Party Dialogue on election-related matters in Juba. “The National Elections Commission and the Political Parties Council should be reconstituted through an inclusive and consultative process so that both enjoy the confidence of all political parties,” Bullen said. He was presenting USAP’s position on the 22 December 2026 general elections on behalf of the party’s chairman, Professor Ajang Bior. The two-week Inter-Party Dialogue was launched by President Salva Kiir on 24 September at the National Legislative Assembly in Juba. The dialogue brings together Juba-based political parties and other national stakeholders to discuss election-related issues and build consensus ahead of the planned elections. At its opening, Kiir said the dialogue should remain focused on election-related matters and help establish a common path towards peaceful and credible elections. The meeting comes days after Kiir removed Abednego Akok Kacuol as chairperson of the NEC and appointed Gabriel Bol Deng Majok, who had been the commission’s secretary-general, to replace him. USAP said an independent and impartial electoral commission is essential to ensuring equal treatment of political parties and candidates throughout the electoral process. The party called for clear and publicly available procedures covering voter registration, nominations, campaigning, polling, counting, tabulation, declaration of results and the resolution of electoral disputes. It also called for equal political space for all recognised political parties, including access to political meetings, public rallies, media and other campaign activities. USAP urged the NEC to ensure that voter registration is transparent and accessible, with particular attention to internally displaced people, returnees and refugees, as well as women, young people and people with disabilities. The party also called for international observers to monitor the electoral process from voter registration through to the announcement of results. Bullen said electoral disputes should be resolved through legal mechanisms, with political parties given access to procedures for lodging complaints and appeals. USAP said the elections should be part of the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement rather than a substitute for it. “The election should be a step in the implementation of the peace process, not a substitute for the peace process,” Bullen said. The party said the remaining provisions of the 2018 peace agreement should continue to be implemented after the elections. USAP also called for the permanent constitution-making process to continue and for a clear timetable to be established for conducting a national population and housing census. Inclusive participation The party also called for all political forces, including groups that did not sign the 2018 peace agreement, to be given an opportunity to participate in the electoral process. It urged authorities to ensure that South Sudanese displaced by conflict, including refugees and returnees who are eligible to vote, can participate. USAP said the credibility of the elections would depend not only on polling day but on the conduct of the entire electoral process, including voter registration, political participation, security, counting, tabulation, announcement of results and resolution of disputes. The party said it supports peaceful, inclusive, transparent and credible elections but insisted that they should be conducted under a clear legal framework and with impartial electoral administration. It also called for the protection of political freedoms, including freedom of expression, peaceful