Twic County Symbol
Twic County, Warrap – Concerns are mounting among residents of both Twic County and the Abyei Administrative Area following the decision by South Sudan’s National Elections Commission (NEC) to place the two areas together under Constituency No. 1 for the country’s planned December 2026 general elections.
The concerns come after the NEC officially declared 102 geographical constituencies across South Sudan, stating that the 2026 elections will be conducted using the constituency boundaries from the 2010 general elections. The commission said the decision followed an agreement by parties to the peace deal to delink the elections from a new population census and constitution-making process.
Under the constituency allocation announced by the NEC, Warrap State and the Abyei Administrative Area will have 12 constituencies. Constituency No. 1 combines Abyei and Twic, while Twic County retains three additional constituencies—Nos. 2, 3, and 4.
The arrangement has drawn criticism from citizens in both Twic County and Abyei, who argue that the combined constituency could undermine fair representation and fail to adequately address the interests of both communities.
Kiirdit Abiem, a concerned citizen from Twic County, said combining Abyei Administrative Area and Twic County into Constituency No. 1 is unfair to both communities.
According to Abiem, Twic County, with an estimated population of more than 400,000 people, risks losing adequate representation in the National Legislative Assembly if the constituency seat is won by a candidate from Abyei.
“For Twic County, it amounts to a denial of fair representation in the National Legislative Assembly,” he said, arguing that a significant portion of the county’s population could be left underrepresented.
Abiem also expressed concern about the implications for Abyei, saying the arrangement continues to deny the people of Abyei political representation that reflects their unique status and identity.
“The people of Abyei deserve representation that reflects their unique political and administrative circumstances,” he stated.
He further called on the government to urgently review the constituency structure and establish a system that guarantees equitable representation for both Twic County and the Abyei Administrative Area.
Abyei Administrative Area Symbol
Similar concerns were raised by Chol Luar Mayol, a resident of the Abyei Administrative Area, who questioned the decision to place Abyei and Twic within the same constituency.
In a statement, Mayol said Abyei and Twic have distinct administrative, social, and political realities that require separate consideration.
“I believe that every community deserves representation that fully reflects its identity, priorities, and development needs,” he said.
Mayol warned that combining the two areas could create challenges in ensuring fair representation and equal attention to the concerns of each community.
However, he acknowledged that the arrangement could have some potential benefits, including encouraging cooperation between neighboring communities, promoting shared development initiatives, and strengthening peaceful coexistence.
At the same time, he highlighted possible drawbacks such as unequal representation, inadequate attention to local concerns, and competition over political interests and resources.
Mayol emphasized that his concerns were intended to encourage constructive dialogue rather than create division between the two communities.
The NEC announced that South Sudan’s first elections since independence are scheduled for December 22, 2026. According to the commission, the allocation of constituencies is in accordance with the National Elections Act 2012, as amended in 2023.
Warrap State and Abyei Administrative Area Constituencies:
Constituency No. 1 – Abyei and Twic
Constituency No. 2 – Twic
Constituency No. 3 – Twic
Constituency No. 4 – Twic
Constituency No. 5 – Gogrial West
Constituency No. 6 – Gogrial West
Constituency No. 7 – Gogrial West and Gogrial East
Constituency No. 8 – Gogrial East
Constituency No. 9 – Tonj North
Constituency No. 10 – Tonj North
Constituency No. 11 – Tonj East
Constituency No. 12 – Tonj South
The constituency arrangement is expected to remain a topic of debate as preparations for South Sudan’s historic 2026 elections continue.