Journalists urged to uphold accuracy ahead of South Sudan’s 2026 elections
By Kidega Livingstone
Media experts have urged journalists in South Sudan to uphold accuracy, impartiality and gender-responsive reporting as the country prepares for the general elections scheduled for December 2026.
The call was made during a two-day training for journalists on election reporting organized by the Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJOSS), with support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Chairperson of the National Editors Forum, Choul Jenny, said journalists have a responsibility to provide the public with verified and accurate information during the electoral period to prevent misinformation and confusion.
“It is the responsibility of journalists to give accurate information to the public. We have to choose between telling the truth and misleading the public,” Jenny said.
He encouraged journalists attending the training to apply the skills gained when covering political parties, candidates, campaigns and other electoral activities.
President of UJOSS, Patrick Oyet Charles, said the training was important as South Sudan prepares for the December 2026 elections, describing the planned vote as a significant event in the country’s history.
“When the country is going to conduct an election and it is the first of its kind, it is historic. As journalists, we all pray that we cover this election, and we should be responsible enough,” Oyet said.
South Sudan is scheduled to hold its general elections on 22 December 2026. The National Elections Commission (NEC) has been conducting preparations, including training State High Elections Committees on voter registration and supporting civic and voter education activities.
The NEC recently warned media organizations and the public against circulating unverified information about voter registration. It said that, as of September 2, 2026, voter registration had not yet started and urged journalists to verify electoral information through official NEC channels before publication.
Media Authority representative Gabriel Mawien Bior said journalists should take election reporting training seriously because the media will play an important role in informing citizens throughout the electoral process.
“This election is going to be the second exercise that we are going to experience, as we witnessed the referendum last time in 2010. I am urging you to take the training seriously so that you will be able to inform the public correctly,” Bior said.
He said journalists should ensure that election-related information reaching the public is accurate and responsible.
The NEC is mandated under South Sudan’s electoral framework to oversee voter registration, civic and voter education, candidate nomination, voting, counting, tallying, electoral complaints and the declaration of results.
Election reporting regulations also require news and current affairs coverage to be guided by accuracy and due impartiality, while state-owned media are required to provide equitable access to political parties and candidates during the campaign period.
The training comes as electoral authorities and other stakeholders intensify preparations for the December polls, with journalists expected to play a key role in providing voters with reliable information and countering misinformation during the electoral process
