By Jacob Onuha Nelson
A three-day workshop on boundary delimitation and vote registration for National election commissioner (NEC) officials kicked off in Juba.
National Elections Commission Chairperson, Professor Abednego Akok Akacuol, explained during the opening, that the training equips officers with knowledge on how to handle the upcoming 2026 elections.
He added that knowledge on boundary delimitation exercises and identify criteria for evaluating electoral boundary fairness and effectiveness in other states of the country are essentials.
Prof. Akok appreciated Bridge consultancy, adding that they have a team of experts that would train the NEC officials as requested.
“I am not to be here today, I familiar with bridge. I attended their courses since 2014 and so on. so, I familiar with them very well. They are professional that is what I like from them,” he said.
“You who are here, you’re very lucky. You’re going to get knowledge from People who have taken the training to be their profession. What about you South Sudanese? when you’re being trained it is a chance for you to get that knowledge” he added.
He urged the trainees to acquire the knowledge so that they can share later with the rest of the colleagues and the citizens at large.
“The coming month and taking it as your property. Years you’ll be taken as a consultant like them because knowledge is not given it is being made you work hard to get knowledge,” he added.
The principal Electoral Affairs Officer and chief, Electoral Affairs Division of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Darren S. Nance, expressed that the training would equip the officials in preparation to ensure credible election in the country.
He stated that the training on voter registration and boundary delimitation is of great importance to the election officials in South Sudan just like it has been done in other countries.
He applauded NEC for their continuous cooperation with the partners adding that UNMISS would continue to support the capacity building of the official as part of peace building.
“I appreciate the partnerships, international electoral commission, and with the government of South Sudan. And I assure UN continue that support to peace process in South Sudan,” he said.
Nancy appealed to the trainees to use the acquired knowledge and ensure that it contributes to election preparations in their states and Administrative Areas.
National Election Commission organized the three days training with support from United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
The training brought More than twenty electoral officials across the ten states and three Administrative Areas to Juba to enriched their understanding of boundary delimitation and vote registration, a key preparation to 2026 election.
A team of expert from Bridge consultancy were guiding NEC officials around selected topics inline with election preparation.