South Sudan President Salva Kiir signs election law amendments

South Sudan President Salva Kiir signed amendments to the national election law on Monday, a move intended to facilitate the country's first general elections since gaining independence in 2011. The vote is currently scheduled to take place on December 22.

The legislative changes remove specific requirements that had previously linked the holding of elections to the completion of a permanent constitution and a national census. According to the office of the president, these amendments represent a significant step in the preparations for the upcoming electoral process.

Minister of Presidential Affairs Africano Mande Gedima stated that the revisions were necessary to align the existing election law with the transitional constitution. By removing the prior contingencies, the government aims to clear the path for the December vote.

The South Sudan Opposition Alliance, a coalition of parties that signed the 2018 peace agreement, has formally rejected the amendments. The coalition contends that the changes were implemented without adequate consultation among the various parties involved in the peace process.

Political tensions remain high as the election date approaches. Last week, President Kiir replaced the head of the national elections commission without providing a public explanation for the decision.

Additionally, the political landscape is impacted by the legal status of Riek Machar, the president’s longtime rival and leader of the main opposition party, the SPLM-IO. Machar has been under house arrest since March 2025 and is currently facing trial on charges including treason and murder, all of which he denies.