The National Elections Commission (NEC) has delivered the first consignment of voter registration materials to Western Equatoria State as preparations continue for the planned nationwide voter registration exercise.
The materials were delivered to Yambio Airstrip on Friday by an NEC delegation from Juba, led by Nyilueth Malou Malek, Assistant Inspector for Voter Registration.
“I am here to deliver a consignment of voter registration materials which include 2,500 voter registration books, registration forms, training manuals, laminating machines and reflective jackets,” She told journalists.
Malou added that approximately 1,000 registration books had already been transported to Yambio, while another aircraft was expected to deliver additional materials because the available aircraft could not carry the entire consignment at once.
She said the exercise would begin simultaneously across the country, with the official starting date to be announced by the national NEC chairperson soon.
The NEC official also said a two-day training programme for returning officers was expected to begin soon, possibly next week, to prepare election personnel for the registration process.
Meanwhile, Simon Bakama, Chairperson of the Western Equatoria State High Elections Commission, welcomed the delivery of the materials, saying the state was ready to begin preparations for voter registration.
“We as people in Western Equatoria are ready for the registration. We have already identified our 229 registration centers, and they have been confirmed by the NEC. We have also completed the recruitment of staff, and they are ready,” he said. “We are ready now to transport these materials to the 229 registration centers. As soon as we get the necessary funds and arrangements are made, we will distribute them to the centers.’
He explained that selected registration officers would travel to Juba for training before returning to train other personnel who would work at registration centers across the state.
“We have always been telling the people of Western Equatoria that they should rest assured that the work of the election is going to be very transparent and very credible,” Bakama said.
South Sudan is scheduled to hold general elections on December 22, 2026, following years of delays in the country’s political transition.
and then