(JUBA) – A leading civil society group in South Sudan has urged Parliament to ensure that the upcoming 2025/2026 national budget is clearly focused on preparing for free, fair, and peaceful general elections scheduled for December next year.
Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), made the remarks on Wednesday, 16 July, in Juba, following the opening session of the National Legislature. He stressed that Parliament must align the national budget with President Salva Kiir’s commitment to peaceful democratic transition through elections.
President Kiir had stated during his address to lawmakers on Tuesday that elections remain the most viable path for the country’s transformation from conflict to peace. Yakani welcomed the President’s position, but insisted that it must be backed by tangible action in the national budget.
“We hope to see that if the MPs resume the sessions, they will look into the aspect of whether the budget has to be election-focused,” Yakani said. “The president said citizens need services. They don’t need promises or words. So this means we need to translate all the promises we made into actions for the best interest of the South Sudanese citizens.”
He added that citizens across the country are calling for peace and stability, and that a credible election process can only happen if sufficient resources are allocated and managed transparently.
Yakani voiced President Kiir’s own words: “The President made it very clear that elections are the only viable way for transitioning the country from violence to peace. But this election requires agreed upon conditions.”
He further urged Parliament to hold the executive branch accountable in implementing the election roadmap and ensuring that the budget reflects national priorities.
“The ball is in your hands by the call of the president,” he told lawmakers. “People want services, not promises.”
In addition to election financing, Yakani highlighted the need to guarantee civil liberties such as media freedom and civic engagement, warning that political restrictions and censorship could undermine the election process and national reconciliation.
“I wish that the restrictive civic and political space should be opened up,” he said. “We don’t want to see restrictions, censorship of media in accessing information, restrictions on events and restrictions on civil society engagements.”
South Sudan has not held a general election since it became independent in 2011. The first national polls were due in July 2015 but were postponed following the outbreak of civil war in December 2013. Since then, Parliament has extended the presidential term several times, citing insecurity and political instability.
The proposed national budget ceiling was recently presented by Finance Minister Marial Dongrin to Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba. While full details of the draft have yet to be made public, civil society organisations say it must include clear provisions to support key electoral activities such as voter registration, civic education, electoral security and logistics.
Key areas civil society is urging Parliament to address in the 2025/2026 budget:
| Priority Area | Recommended Action |
|---|---|
| Electoral Funding | Allocate sufficient funds for elections and logistics |
| Civic Space | Protect freedoms of speech, media, and assembly |
| Executive Oversight | Parliament to hold government accountable |
| Public Services | Turn political promises into practical services |
| Peace and Stability | Ensure budget aligns with peacebuilding and transition |
