South Sudan Defends Abyei’s Inclusion in 2026 General Elections
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Ambassador Agok Anyar Madut.
By Sasuk Taban
The Government of South Sudan has defended its decision to include residents of the Abyei Area in the country’s December 22, 2026 general elections, rejecting objections raised by the Republic of Sudan and insisting that the move is fully supported by existing legal and constitutional frameworks.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the government responded to Sudan’s July 13, 2026 press statement, which opposed the participation of Abyei residents—particularly members of the Nine Ngok Dinka Chiefdoms—in South Sudan’s upcoming elections.
South Sudan expressed surprise that Sudan chose to raise its concerns through public statements and complaints to the United Nations and regional organizations rather than through established diplomatic channels.
The ministry argued that the inclusion of Abyei residents is legally justified under several binding legal instruments, including the 2005 Abyei Protocol of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), the Interim National Constitution of Sudan (2005), the Interim Constitution of Southern Sudan (2005), and the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan (2011, as amended).
According to the statement, these legal instruments recognize the rights of the Nine Ngok Dinka Chiefdoms to South Sudanese citizenship and political representation. The government also noted that Abyei residents participated in the 2010 elections in Southern Sudan without objection, describing the current electoral arrangements as a continuation of an established constitutional and electoral practice.
The Ministry further reaffirmed South Sudan’s commitment to resolving the final status of Abyei through peaceful dialogue and negotiations.
It also praised the continued efforts of the African Union, the United Nations, and other international partners working toward a peaceful settlement of the long-standing Abyei dispute.
The government reiterated that while it remains committed to dialogue, the constitutional rights of Abyei residents to participate in South Sudan’s electoral process will continue to be upheld.
