South Sudan again postpones its first-ever elections
South Sudan has once again postponed its first-ever elections, this time from December 22, 2026, to February 11, 2027, amid political tensions, ongoing violence, and UN warnings that conditions do not allow for free and fair elections.
South Sudan announced another postponement of its first presidential and parliamentary elections, originally scheduled for December 22, 2026, moving them to February 11, 2027. The National Election Commission cited the need to complete logistical preparations, including setting up polling stations and voter registration. The decision comes amid growing security concerns, clashes between government forces and armed opposition, and UN warnings that conditions in the country do not allow for free and credible elections. South Sudan gained independence in 2011, but two years later descended into a bloody civil war that ended with a peace agreement in 2018. Tensions persist, especially since the arrest of former Vice President Riek Machar on charges of treason and murder, a move seen as political persecution. The UN and the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights warn that suppression of the opposition and lack of political dialogue could lead to a renewed outbreak of civil war.