By Waure Eddy.
The Western Equatoria State office of the National Elections Commission (NEC) has received voter registration materials from the National Elections Commission headquarters in Juba ahead of South Sudan’s planned general elections on December 22, 2026.
The materials arrived in Yambio, the capital of Western Equatoria State, on Wednesday and were received by the State NEC Chairperson, Simon Bakama, together with commission staff.
Speaking during a press statement at the NEC office in Yambio, Bakama said the materials would enable the state to begin preparations for the voter registration exercise.
He said state election officials had recently travelled to Juba for a briefing by the National Commission and were encouraged to work diligently to ensure a successful electoral process.
Bakama said the people of Western Equatoria State are ready to participate in the registration and voting process.
“Yesterday we received 1,300 registration books. We received 1,000 T-shirts, 48 executive T-shirts, 350 caps, 1,000 pens, one generator and others. Now this is what we are going to start the work with,” Bakama said.
The State NEC chairperson said the commission will identify Registration Oficers in the Counties, together with their Assistants, whose details will be submitted to the national headquarters in Juba.
“These are the people who will run the registration process in their various Counties. Once the data is set and the launching takes place, they will start their work immediately,” Bakama explained.
Bakama also said internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in different camps across Western Equatoria State would be included in the voter registration exercise and would be allowed to register and vote from their respective areas, in accordance with the electoral arrangements.
South Sudan is preparing to hold its General Elections on December 22, 2026, which would mark the country’s first general election since gaining independence in 2011.
The upcoming election is expected to provide South Sudanese citizens with an opportunity to participate in choosing their leaders and determining the country’s future through the ballot box.
