South Sudan Parliament Amends 2018 Peace Agreement to Clear Path for December Elections

July 1, 2026 — South Sudan's parliament approved amendments to the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), removing the requirement for a population census and a permanent constitution before the December 22, 2026 elections; both tasks were deferred to the incoming elected government. Opposition lawmakers challenged the amendments' legality, and SPLM-IO leader Riek Machar's faction — under house arrest since March 2026 and facing treason charges — was excluded from the consultations that reaffirmed the election timeline, raising concerns about the vote's inclusivity.