South Sudan Postpones First-Ever National Elections Until February

The vote, first expected in 2022, will now be held on February 11, according to the country’s election commission. South Sudan has delayed its first-ever presidential and parliamentary elections until February, the latest in a series of delays to the long-sought vote, as ethnic and political tensions deepen. The country’s election commission announced on Saturday that the polls would be held on February 11 next year, instead of December 22 this year. It did not give any reason for the decision (Source ID: 1). [1]

The world’s youngest country, which continues to grapple with violence despite a 2018 peace deal that ended five years of civil war, has delayed the vote at least three times since setting 2022 as its election year. In September, South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir dissolved the transitional unity government and appointed a caretaker administration. That step allowed the country to move towards elections without first completing a permanent constitution or census – two processes that were previously tied to the transition (Source ID: 1). [1]

Analysts and watchdogs warned that move dismantled a key power-sharing arrangement, consolidating power in Kiir’s hands and raising the risk of renewed widespread conflict. Kiir’s government forces and followers of detained former Vice President Riek Machar have been involved in escalating, deadly confrontations in recent months. Other ethnic tensions and cattle-rustling battles have also complicated the picture in one of the world’s poorest countries (Source ID: 1). [1]

Under the new election timetable, voter registration is due to begin on Saturday, November 14 and continue until November 28. A 45-day election campaign period will run from December 27 to February 9, followed by a one-day silence period before the February 11 poll. Gabriel Bol Deng, chairman of the National Elections Commission, said a total of 3,161 registration centres have been set up across the country, with more than 22,000 staff recruited for the operation (Source ID: 1). [1]

The vote, first expected in 2022, will now be held on February 11, according to the country’s election commission. South Sudan has delayed its first-ever presidential and parliamentary elections until February, the latest in a series of delays to the long-sought vote, as ethnic and political tensions deepen (source ID: 1). The country’s election commission announced on Saturday that the polls would be held on February 11 next year, instead of December 22 this year. It did not give any reason for the decision. [1]

The world’s youngest country, which continues to grapple with violence despite a 2018 peace deal that ended five years of civil war, has delayed the vote at least three times since setting 2022 as its election year (source ID: 1). In September, South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir dissolved the transitional unity government and appointed a caretaker administration. That step allowed the country to move towards elections without first completing a permanent constitution or census – two processes that were previously tied to the transition. [1]

Analysts and watchdogs warned that move dismantled a key power-sharing arrangement, consolidating power in Kiir’s hands and raising the risk of renewed widespread conflict (source ID: 1). Under the new election timetable, voter registration is due to begin on Saturday, November 14 and continue until November 28. A 45-day election campaign period will run from December 27 to February 9, followed by a one-day silence period before the February 11 poll. [1]

The vote, first expected in 2022, will now be held on February 11, according to the country’s election commission. South Sudan has delayed its first-ever presidential and parliamentary elections until February, the latest in a series of delays to the long-sought vote, as ethnic and political tensions deepen (source ID: 1). The country’s election commission announced on Saturday that the polls would be held on February 11 next year, instead of December 22 this year. It did not give any reason for the decision. [1]

The world’s youngest country, which continues to grapple with violence despite a 2018 peace deal that ended five years of civil war, has delayed the vote at least three times since setting 2022 as its election year (source ID: 1). In September, South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir dissolved the transitional unity government and appointed a caretaker administration. That step allowed the country to move towards elections without first completing a permanent constitution or census – two processes that were previously tied to the transition. [1]

Analysts and watchdogs warned that move dismantled a key power-sharing arrangement, consolidating power in Kiir’s hands and raising the risk of renewed widespread conflict (source ID: 1). Kiir’s government forces and followers of detained former Vice President Riek Machar have been involved in escalating, deadly confrontations in recent months. Other ethnic tensions and cattle-rustling battles have also complicated the picture in one of the world’s poorest countries. [1]

Sources

Al Jazeera (All)

Prepared with AI assistance from the cited sources.