GNV News, September 18, 2024

According to President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s statement on September 13, 2024, South Sudan has postponed the general elections that were scheduled for December 2024 by two years, and will hold them in December 2026. The postponement has been attributed to factors such as the absence of a census capable of accurately determining the population, the fact that only a provisional constitution exists and a formal constitution has not yet been enacted, and delays in election preparations, among other issues, as noted.

South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011, but it has not held a general election since independence. A power struggle also escalated into armed conflict in 2013 and lasted until 2018. Although instability continued afterward, a unity government that included parties to the conflict was formed in 2020. Even after the central government stabilized, small-scale conflicts continue in multiple regions. The elections were originally scheduled for 2015, but, citing the ongoing conflict, they were postponed to 2018. Since then, extensions of the transitional government and further election delays have been repeated. In addition to security problems, South Sudan is also grappling with an economic crisis, and corruption is a major issue; there are many voices saying the current administration is trying to remain in power.

Learn more about South Sudan → “South Sudan: Unstable politics and severe natural disasters“

Learn more about international coverage of South Sudan → “South Sudan: Why is it covered in the ‘unreported Africa’?“

President Kiir inspecting the unified forces, 2022 (Photo: UNMISS / Flickr [CC BY-NC-ND 2.0])