NEC appoints returning officers for all 10 states, dispatches election materials to regions

The appointments, signed by NEC Chairperson Gabriel Bol Deng on November 4, cover the country’s ten states, as well as Pibor, Ruweng and Abyei administrative areas, and comes just moments after body delivered second batch of election materials to six regions of the country

By Emmanuel Mandella

National Elections Commission (NEC) chairperson, Gabriel Bol Deng with Commissioners and officials of the polls body during the official delivery of the second batch of materials to the country’s regions. [Photo: Courtesy]

The National Elections Commission (NEC) has appointed State Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers for all ten states and three administrative areas as part of preparations for South Sudan’s December 2026 general elections.

The appointments, signed by NEC Chairperson Gabriel Bol Deng on November 4, cover the country’s ten states, as well as Pibor, Ruweng and Abyei administrative areas.

Under the appointments, each state and administrative area will have a designated returning officer and an assistant.

In Central Equatoria State, Emmanuel Angelo Maame has been appointed State Returning Officer, with Jackson Micheal Bambu named Assistant Returning Officer.

Western Equatoria State will be served by Taban Clement Oliver as State Returning Officer and Rita Samuel Laki Lojeng as Assistant Returning Officer. In Eastern Equatoria, Ebadion Okano Albino and Lemor William Joseph Lengor have been appointed to the respective positions.

In Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, Valentino Achak Deng has been appointed State Returning Officer, assisted by Bol Mayuol Mayuol. Western Bahr el Ghazal will have Wiliam Malueth Ngor Aguer as State Returning Officer and Louis Peter Juma as his assistant.

For Warrap State, the Commission appointed Kir Mangong Madut as State Returning Officer and Kuany John Dut Bol Thiel as Assistant Returning Officer. In Lakes State, Dr Benjamin Achiek Machar Angok and Hellena Aping Mannhomjong have been appointed to the two positions, respectively.

Jonglei State will be represented by Nathaniel Dau Dut Ajang as State Returning Officer and Kun Chuol Kun as Assistant Returning Officer. In Upper Nile State, Yien Chan Chol has been appointed State Returning Officer, with Both Dual Mar as assistant.

In Unity State, Gatchang Nhial Kuol has been appointed State Returning Officer, while Gatwech Mayah Puany will serve as Assistant Returning Officer.

The Commission also appointed returning officers for the three administrative areas. Maze Gain Maze will serve as Returning Officer for Pibor Administrative Area, assisted by Samuel Oman.

In Ruweng Administrative Area, Chol Isaac Achuil has been appointed Returning Officer, with Nathaniel Nyok Monyjok as Assistant Returning Officer. Abyei Administrative Area will have Ring Monydhang Deng as Returning Officer and Kur Alor Kur as assistant.

The appointments were made under Sections 18, 15 (2) (P) and 26 (1), (3) and (5) of the National Elections Act, 2012, as amended.

According to the appointment order, the decisions take effect from the date of signature, making the appointments part of the Commission’s preparations for the December polls.

The selection of returning officers across all states and administrative areas marks another administrative step in the preparations for the elections.

The NEC’s latest appointments come as the country prepares for the December 2026 general elections.

Delivery of election materials

Election materials being offloaded from a truck and loaded to a standby cargo plane to be dispatched to the three administrative areas and two states. [Photo: Courtesy]

Earlier on yesterday (Wednesday), NEC delivered the second batch of election materials to regions of the country.

The materials, including voter registration books, supplementary forms, equipment such as lamination machines and voter registration kids, were delivered to Greater Pibor, Ruweng and Abyei Administrative Areas, as well as Unity and Northern Bahr el Ghazal states.

The distribution included 1,397 voter registration books for Greater Pibor Administrative Area, 1,364 for Ruweng Administrative Area, 781 for Abyei Administrative Area, 3,300 for Unity State and 6,864 for Northern Bahr el Ghazal State.

“The delivery follows the handover of the first batch of voter registration materials to the Central Equatoria State High Elections Committee on 2 November 2026,” the statement said.

The Commission described the distribution as part of its efforts to equip state and administrative-area election teams to conduct voter registration ahead of the general elections.

The latest delivery brings the number of locations publicly reported by the NEC as having received registration materials to six, including Central Equatoria State, where the first batch was handed over on Monday.

The distribution marks a further step in the logistical preparations for the electoral process.

In the statement, the NEC linked voter registration to citizens’ constitutional and democratic participation, saying the country’s struggle for freedom and self-determination had given South Sudanese the right to determine their future through participation in choosing their leaders.

“Voter registration helps eligible citizens exercise that right by enabling them to take part in choosing their leaders,” the statement said.

The Commission also stressed the need to ensure that registration is accessible to all eligible citizens, particularly women, young people, persons with disabilities and residents of remote communities.

It called on election officials, local authorities, civil society organizations, community leaders and the media to cooperate in providing accurate information to the public about the registration process.

“The Commission calls on election officials, local authorities, civil society organizations, community leaders and the media to work together to share accurate information about where, when and how eligible citizens can register,” the statement added.

The delivery comes as election preparations continue across the country, with the Commission facing the logistical task of distributing materials and preparing registration teams to reach eligible voters in states and administrative areas.

Utilities

“Voter registration helps eligible citizens exercise that right by enabling them to take part in choosing their leaders,” National Elections Commission statement.