South_Sudan postpones December election by two years

South Sudan’s government has announced a two-year postponement of the general elections initially planned for December 2024. The government stated that more time is required to conduct a census, draft a permanent constitution, and register political parties. The elections are now scheduled for December 22, 2026.

This marks the second delay in South Sudan’s election timeline. The transitional period, which began in 2020, was set to end with elections in 2024. President Salva Kiir and his deputy, Riek Machar, who signed a peace agreement in 2018 after a civil war, are both key figures in this extended period.

Government officials have cited both electoral and security recommendations as reasons for the postponement. The country continues to face significant challenges, including an economic crisis and disruptions to oil exports due to conflict in neighboring #Sudan.