South Sudan's president signs election law changes ahead of December vote
The changes remove census and constitution hurdles and cut lawmakers’ seats as officials prepare for South Sudan’s first election since 2011.
- On Monday, South Sudan President Salva Kiir signed amendments to the National Elections Act, removing requirements linking elections to a permanent constitution and national census. The changes aim to facilitate general elections scheduled for December 22.
- Presidential affairs minister Africano Mande Gedima said the amendments align the law with the transitional constitution. The legislation removes contingencies that had made elections dependent on completing a permanent constitution and census.
- The National Legislative Assembly will shrink to 270 members from 650, while state assemblies drop to 58 from 100. The South Sudan Opposition Alliance rejected the changes, saying they were made without adequate consultation.
- Edmund Yakani, executive director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation, urged leaders to settle differences peacefully, warning "Don't return us to war." Opposition leader Riek Machar remains under house arrest facing treason and murder charges.
- Under the amended legislation, the incumbent executive leadership retains full constitutional powers through the election period until a newly elected president assumes office. Parliament passed the bill Monday, though voter registration has not yet begun.
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South Sudan's president signs election law changes ahead of December vote
South Sudan President Salva Kiir signed amendments to the country's election law late on Monday, removing requirements that linked elections to the completion of a permanent constitution and a national census, changes that were rejected by the main opposition coalition.
South Sudan Amends Election Law Ahead Of December Polls
South Sudan has amended its election law, removing requirements for a permanent constitution and national census to be completed before general elections scheduled for December 22. President Salva Kiir signed the amendments late Monday after Parliament approved the bill earlier the same day. The changes were intended to pave the way for the country’s first […]
South Sudan had allowed the first general elections in its history without a preliminary census and a permanent constitution, three months before the vote, but voter registration had not yet begun, the President ' s main rival was being tried for the State, and the opposition had rejected the new rules.
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