South Sudan’s Transitional National Legislature on Wednesday approved major amendments to the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement, paving the way for national elections expected to be held in December.

Lawmakers voted to defer the mandatory national population and housing census and the completion of the permanent constitution until after the polls.

The changes are meant to remove major legal and logistical barriers that could have pushed the elections back by years. According to parliamentary officials, the decision is a practical step to accelerate preparations.

Oliver Mori Benjamin, caretaker chairperson of the parliament’s Information Committee, said the amendments clear the way for faster progress.

"The two main provisions amended concern the population census and the permanent constitution-making process. These have been deferred until after the elections and will be undertaken by the elected government. This resolution now allows the National Elections Commission and political parties to speed up their activities in preparation for the elections," he said.

Mori added that removing these requirements eliminates the biggest obstacles, noting that both processes could have taken more than a year.

With those requirements deferred, voter registration and the publication of the voters' register can now be completed within two to three months, he said.

He also downplayed security concerns, describing security arrangements as "an ongoing process" that would not derail the vote.

However, opposition lawmakers challenged the legality of the amendments.

Several opposition groups also maintain that critical benchmarks such as security reforms and force unification remain incomplete.

In the meantime, South Sudan’s National Elections Commission last month confirmed December 22, 2026, as the polling date.

Stakeholders hope the long-delayed election, originally scheduled for 2015, will finally usher in an elected government.