On Friday, South Sudan's transitional government announced the postponement of its long-awaited elections and extended the transitional period by an additional two years, marking the second time the nation has delayed elections. This decision comes after the government failed to meet critical benchmarks outlined in the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), an accord that was meant to guide the nation towards stability following years of civil war.
Key Announcements
Martin Elia Lomuro, South Sudan's Minister for Cabinet Affairs, disclosed that the extension followed consultations with election-related bodies and the security sector. According to Lomuro, both sectors emphasized the need for more time to complete essential tasks related to the peace agreement, including the drafting of a permanent constitution and the unification of military forces. These steps are crucial to ensuring that South Sudan can hold credible and peaceful elections.
The transition period has now been reset to begin in February 2025, with elections slated for December 2026. Lomuro assured the public that the government remains committed to fulfilling the provisions of the peace agreement but stressed that additional time is necessary to prevent a rushed or flawed electoral process.
Background of the Transitional Period and the Peace Agreement
South Sudan, the world’s youngest country, gained independence from Sudan in 2011. However, internal conflict erupted in 2013 between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those aligned with his former Vice President, Riek Machar. The civil war resulted in the deaths of an estimated 400,000 people and displaced millions, causing widespread devastation.
In 2018, the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan was signed by warring factions. The agreement aimed to end the bloodshed and set the country on a path toward democratic governance. It provided for a transitional unity government, which was inaugurated in February 2020, and laid out key steps that needed to be achieved during the transitional period, including reforms to the security, judiciary, and electoral systems.
According to the agreement, the transitional government was supposed to be dissolved by September 22, 2024, to pave the way for the country’s first general elections in December 2024. However, the postponement of these elections underscores the challenges South Sudan faces in implementing the peace deal.
Reasons for the Delay
The decision to postpone the elections was largely driven by logistical, political, and security challenges. The country's security sector, still fractured and divided between rival factions, has struggled to unify its forces as required by the peace deal. Additionally, key electoral and legal reforms have been delayed, including the creation of a permanent constitution, which is vital for organizing free and fair elections.
Lomuro emphasized that these delays were compounded by the slow pace of integrating rebel forces into a single national army, which is seen as a cornerstone of lasting peace. Without adequate progress on this front, the risk of renewed violence remains high, making the environment for credible elections precarious.
Further complicating matters, electoral commissions and civil society organizations have expressed concerns about the lack of infrastructure and resources needed to hold elections in a country where access to basic services is limited, and large parts of the population remain displaced.
Implications of the Extension
This latest extension has sparked mixed reactions both domestically and internationally. On the one hand, the extension may help South Sudan's transitional government implement the reforms needed to hold peaceful elections. On the other hand, critics argue that continued delays undermine the credibility of the government and the peace process, raising fears that South Sudan could slide back into instability.
Many ordinary South Sudanese, frustrated by the slow pace of progress, have voiced concerns over the government's ability to deliver on its promises. For a population that has endured decades of conflict, poverty, and displacement, the delays prolong their suffering and uncertainty.
International observers have called on South Sudan’s leaders to use this additional time wisely to ensure the elections take place in 2026. The United Nations, African Union, and regional bodies like the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have reiterated their support for the peace process but have also urged the government to redouble its efforts in implementing the R-ARCSS provisions.
South Sudan's journey toward peace and democracy remains fraught with challenges, as evidenced by the latest postponement of elections. The transitional government now has two more years to implement critical reforms, unify its security forces, and create an environment conducive to holding its first-ever general elections. However, the success of this extension depends on the government's ability to overcome the many political, logistical, and security obstacles that lie ahead. Only time will tell whether the additional time will be used to solidify peace or further delay South Sudan's path to stability and democratic governance.
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