Key facts
- President Salva Kiir replaced Abednego Akok Kacuol as Chairperson of South Sudan's National Elections Commission with Gabriel Bol Deng Majok.
- The leadership change occurs three months before South Sudan's general elections scheduled for December 22, 2026.
- No official reason was provided for the removal of Professor Kacuol.
- The UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan stated last week that conditions for credible elections are missing.
South Sudan's President Salva Kiir has replaced the head of the National Elections Commission (NEC), Professor Abednego Akok Kacuol, with the commission's Secretary-General, Gabriel Bol Deng Majok. The announcement was made via state-owned broadcaster SSBC on Tuesday evening. No official reason was given for the change.
The leadership transition occurs just three months before the country's general elections, scheduled for December 22, 2026. This will be the first national election since South Sudan gained independence in 2011. The country has been at peace since a 2018 agreement ended a five-year conflict, though inter-communal violence remains frequent.
Last week, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan noted that safeguards and conditions for peaceful and credible elections were missing. UN Commissioner Barney Afako stated that the right to vote must be protected by ensuring free participation, fair competition, and credible adjudication of electoral disputes.
Political science professor Abraham Kuol Nyuon of the University of Juba questioned the timing of the decision, suggesting that such changes are unusual at such a critical juncture. He noted that appointing Deng, who is familiar with the institution, could minimize disruption, but acknowledged that the new chairperson would still need time to acclimate to the role. Professor Nyuon suggested that the leadership change could impact preparations for voter registration and potentially delay the election timetable, possibly necessitating an extension of the transitional period.