A new amendment to the peace agreement, aimed at realizing the long-delayed general elections in South Sudan and backed by the country’s cabinet members, has reportedly been approved. While this decision is viewed as a major step toward the national elections expected to be held in December 2026, it has sparked significant concern among opposition groups and civil society organizations.
Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth (Atheny Wek Atheny) stated that the cabinet meeting, chaired by President Salva Kiir, unanimously approved all the new amendments proposed for the 2018 peace agreement. The minister added that this draft amendment will be forwarded to the country’s parliament to pass through subsequent legal procedures for final ratification. Although the amendment primarily aims to rectify legal and procedural provisions that have hindered the conduct of the election, the specific details regarding the content of the modifications have not yet been clearly disclosed.
This recently approved amendment is the second of its kind; it is recalled that a similar amendment made in December 2025 removed critical pre-election requirements from the agreement, such as the preparation of a permanent constitution and the conducting of a population census.
However, those changes were rejected by the opposition group led by Vice President Riek Machar. The opposition argued that the changes bypassed the recognition of the parliament and the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), the body responsible for overseeing the implementation of the peace deal.
Civil society organizations share similar concerns regarding the current decision. They are expressing that the provision stating “any amendment to the peace agreement must pass through and receive support from the monitoring commission (RJMEC)” has been violated. According to these groups, an amendment lacking transparency and consensus among stakeholders could once again trigger instability in the country.
The political tension and the delay of the electoral process in South Sudan are also concerning the international community. In particular, calls are being made for the African Union and IGAD member states to intervene and facilitate a way for the government and the opposition to work together. Since the signing of the 2018 peace agreement, numerous articles have remained unimplemented, and the election has been repeatedly postponed.
The government, for its part, argues that postponing the election any further is dangerous for the country’s economy and political survival, maintaining that the current amendments are indispensable steps to accelerate the process. Nevertheless, concerns persist that entering an election without resolving fundamental issues—such as the reorganization of security forces and the matter of displaced persons—could call the credibility of the election into question.
