Auxiliary Bishop of Juba questions election plan

Auxiliary Bishop of Juba Santo Loku Pio Doggale has questioned the government's plan to hold elections without a population census or a permanent constitution. Speaking at a Church event last week, Bishop Doggale stated that a census is necessary to determine population distribution and geographical locations, which serve as the foundation for any election.

The bishop's comments follow recent legislative changes in South Sudan. On September 1, 2026, the Transitional National Legislative Assembly unanimously approved Bill No. 13 of 2026 during a closed-door session. The Speaker ordered journalists and the public to leave the chamber, citing national security concerns. Two days later, President Salva Kiir signed the amendment, which removes the legal requirement for a population census and a permanent constitution to be in place before elections can occur.

Bishop Doggale suggested that unless a census was conducted in secret, the government cannot know the size of the population needed for valid elections. He added that the people of South Sudan have had their time wasted since 2005.