South Sudan holds its general election on 22 Dec 2026. This page sets out what the vote decides, who runs it, how the last one went and who holds office today.
What is being decided
- The head of state. Salva Kiir Mayardit has been head of state since 9 Jul 2011.
- Transitional National Legislative Assembly (Al-Majlis Al-Tachirii): 550 seats (all appointed).
- Council of States (Al-Watani): 100 seats (all appointed).
Note from the source: NEC announced 22 December 2026 for general elections, the first since independence; the vote has been postponed several times before.
Who runs the election
The vote is run by National Elections Commission (NEC).
The last result
We hold no result for an earlier national election in South Sudan.
Who holds office now
| Office | Holder | In office since | How chosen | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head of state | Salva Kiir Mayardit | 9 Jul 2011 | - | - |
See the full South Sudan government directory and the Africa election calendar.
Other national elections coming up
| Country | Election | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Cabo Verde | Presidential election | 15 Nov 2026 |
| Gambia | Presidential election | 5 Dec 2026 |
| Nigeria | General election | 16 Jan 2027 |
| Gambia | Parliamentary election | 10 Apr 2027 |
| Kenya | General election | 10 Aug 2027 |
Polling and research around the vote
PollsAfrica designs and runs opinion polls and household surveys across Africa, with the sample, dates, mode and weighting published for every release. If you need research in South Sudan before or after this vote, see our research services or contact us.
Source: National Elections Commission (NEC), 2026; CIA World Factbook, 2026; Office of the President of South Sudan, 2026. Method: how we compile this.