 and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) held their second consultative meeting on the electoral process and its challenges on Friday. The half-day engagement aimed to raise public awareness of electoral preparedness and foster stronger relations between key stakeholders.){kind=link}
By Ginaba Lino
The National Elections Commission (NEC) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) held their second consultative meeting on the electoral process and its challenges on Friday. The half-day engagement aimed to raise public awareness of electoral preparedness and foster stronger relations between key stakeholders.
This meeting is part of a series of stakeholder engagements that form part of the NEC’s action plan, which was adopted during a retreat in Entebbe, Uganda, in December 2024.
In his opening remarks, NEC Chairperson, Hon. Prof. Abednego Akok Hacuol, commended CSOs for their participation in the consultative meeting and their ongoing support for South Sudan’s electoral process.
“The purpose of this meeting is to expand civic and political space for effective citizen engagement and to enhance NEC’s capacity to collaborate meaningfully with CSOs as key stakeholders,” Prof. Akok stated. He also encouraged stakeholders to visit the NEC offices to stay updated on electoral developments.
“We value our stakeholders, which include the executive, parliament, youth, women, media, and civil society. We continue to engage with them because this platform is essential for bringing everyone together. I encourage you to visit the commission and stay informed on what’s happening,” he emphasized.
Prof. Akok urged the public to read the Election Act to identify potential contradictions or gaps in the electoral process. He acknowledged some shortcomings affecting the commission but assured that these issues had been identified and forwarded to the Ministry of Justice for further legal adjustments.
“Elections are a process involving several stages: the legal framework, voter registration, and nomination, among others. There are shortcomings, and we have already sent recommendations to the Ministry of Justice for necessary adjustments. We hope these issues will be addressed before the registration phase,” he added.
He reiterated NEC’s commitment to ensuring credible elections, guided by the principles of transparency, inclusivity, non-discrimination, and peace. “Only credible elections can provide a solid foundation for sustainable peace, democracy, and development in South Sudan,” Prof. Akok stressed.
Representatives of CSOs at the meeting welcomed the NEC’s initiative to engage with electoral stakeholders and share insights into the challenges faced in preparing for the December 2026 elections. They recognized that successful elections require collaboration across all processes, including legal frameworks, voter registration, candidate nomination, voting, counting of votes, and result announcements.
Around 80 participants, including national CSOs, community and faith-based organizations, media, and academia, attended the meeting. This marks the second such engagement by the NEC, following a similar event with political parties in December 2024.