Civil society applauds $6 million release for NEC civic education
Dabek Mabior Arok, Secretary General of the South Sudan Civil Society Alliance, speaks at the press conference in Juba on Thursday August 14, 2025. Credit / Malual Peter Atem / TRC

South Sudan Civil Society Alliance has welcomed the release of $6 million to the National Elections Commission (NEC) for civic and voter education ahead of the December 2026 general elections.

The alliances’s Secretary General Dabek Mabior Arok said the funding marks an important step toward strengthening electoral preparedness and promoting informed citizen participation.

“This development marks an important step toward strengthening electoral preparedness and promoting informed citizen participation in the democratic process,” Arok said.

He said civic and voter education were essential for credible, transparent and inclusive elections, enabling citizens to understand their rights, responsibilities and electoral procedures.

While welcoming the funding, SSCSA expressed concern over the pace of election preparations and urged sustained cooperation among stakeholders to ensure timely delivery of the polls.

The group commended the government for its commitment to holding elections, but called for accelerated support to the NEC and other electoral institutions.

It said adequate funding, institutional independence and timely implementation of electoral activities were critical for credible elections.

SSCSA also called on the government, political parties, civil society and development partners to work together to create a conducive political and security environment for the vote.

South Sudan is preparing for its first general elections since independence in 2011 after repeated postponements.