South Sudan’s government has announced that the national election, initially scheduled for December 2024, will now be postponed to December 22, 2026. The presidency, chaired by President Salva Kiir Mayardit, stated that the extension of the transitional period by two years is necessary to address the ongoing challenges and complete essential tasks before the elections.
The decision highlights the difficulties in South Sudan’s fragile peace process. Although the country has been officially at peace since the 2018 agreement ended a five-year conflict, there continue to be intermittent outbreaks of violence among rival communities.
The transitional government, which includes both Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar, was set to oversee the elections to transition to a new leadership. However, the government has determined that more time is needed to prepare adequately for the polls.
