AWEIL, South Sudan, July 6 — A lawmaker in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state warned Sunday that South Sudan’s general elections cannot proceed unless key provisions of the 2018 revitalized peace agreement are fully enacted, including security reforms, census efforts and refugee repatriation, July 6.

Tereza Achol Bilwan of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO) said the government must unify armed forces, conduct a national census, and facilitate the return of refugees to ensure the legitimacy of elections scheduled for December 2026.

“The armed forces are not unified; security arrangements are not in place, the national census has not been conducted, and the repatriation of refugees remains unimplemented,” Achol told Radio Tamazuj.

She also cited economic challenges, noting delayed salary payments to civil servants and constitutional post holders. “Reforms in finance and the national economy are delayed,” she said. “Government employees have gone months without salaries or incentives.”

Joseph Akuei Yak, chairperson of the Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Elections Commission, said preparations were underway. “Our office has been renovated, and additional departments have been constructed. We are now mobilizing the public to prepare for upcoming electoral activities,” he said.

However, civil society leaders cautioned that foundational work is lacking. Wek Garang, executive director of the Peace Culture Association, stressed the need for civic education and population data.

“South Sudan’s electoral process requires major preparations — voter education, a population census and other key steps. With only one year left, many of these tasks remain unfulfilled,” Garang said.

Tensions have risen since March with reports of political repression, including the detention of opposition leaders such as First Vice President Riek Machar, and military operations in Upper Nile state targeting opposition forces in civilian-populated areas.