Auxiliary Bishop of Juba questions election plan

Auxiliary Bishop of Juba Santo Loku Pio Doggale questioned the validity of planned elections in South Sudan, noting the absence of a population census and a permanent constitution. Speaking at a Church event last week, Bishop Doggale said a census is necessary to determine population distribution and geographical locations. He suggested that unless a census was conducted in secret, elections cannot be held without knowing the size of the population.

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 before elections can take place.