According to the Chairperson of South Sudan’s National Election Commission, Prof Aberdneg Akok, conducting a census early is necessary to allow people from neighboring countries to return home and participate in the country’s upcoming General elections. Despite economic hardships that have reduced the country’s performance in the region, the chairperson has suggested that the country may have to rely on the 2008 census results. He has also called on peace partners and stakeholders to support the process of creating an early arrangement that will enable the country to achieve its first historically elections instead of postponing them.

The 2018 peace deal tasked the unity government with negotiating the need for a population census to determine whether the country is ready to hold elections, depending on the results of the census. South Sudan is now a sovereign nation that can hold its own independent elections without fear, since Khartoum accepted its independence through the comprehensive peace agreement (CPA) signed in Kenya in 2005 between the two governments. However, the country has never conducted any elections since the world recognized it as a republic state. Therefore, this will be the first time South Sudan runs its own elections, like any other country around the world.

The population count in 2008 was 12 million people, but the census was conducted under Sudan’s leadership when the country was still together as one nation. It was based on the comprehensive peace agreement (CPA), which provided hope for the Sudanese people to build a better new Sudan with a fair share in power, resources, services, and development. To achieve these goals, a population count with high accuracy and full coverage was necessary.