The country, which won independence in 2011 after a long conflict with Sudan, has not seen an election since.
A date has been set for a national vote: Dec. 22, 2024. Yet the timing remains in question, with the United Nations and others doubting whether adequate preparations have been made.
The proposed vote follows years of delays: An election was due to take place in 2015 but was postponed after the young country descended into civil war.
The 2024 vote was poised to shape the future of a country still grappling with the challenges of peace-building and governance – South Sudan entered a post-civil war transitional period in 2018, yet sporadic, mainly intercommunal violence continues. A national vote offers a critical opportunity to consolidate a hard-won peace and chart a course toward a more stable and democratic future.
But the country has failed to establish a robust electoral framework crucial for fair and credible polls – including constitutional, legal, financial and political conditions to ensure the feasibility of holding a credible national ballot. Moreover, entrenched disagreements among political leaders threaten to exacerbate the situation.
Successful elections could elevate South Sudan’s international reputation by demonstrating political maturity and a commitment to democracy after years of instability. Both regional and global actors have urged the government to hold elections promised under the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan. Amid implementation delays, a road map was endorsed in August 2022 to guide the peace process and elections.
In December 2022, the government reconstituted key bodies, including the National Constitutional Review Commission and the National Electoral Commission, as a precursor to elections. However, both entities face financial challenges, with the National Constitutional Review Commission yet to receive any funding.
These financial problems are a major obstacle. While the National Electoral Commission and the Political Parties Council, a body tasked with promoting political dialogue and cooperation, have received some funding, it is insufficient for full operations. International stakeholders, including the United Nations, the African Union and the EU, had expected the government to finance the elections, but ongoing delays have left international bodies advising and encouraging the government from the sidelines, concerned about the lack of progress.
The country, which won independence in 2011 after a long conflict with Sudan, has not seen an election since.
A date has been set for a national vote: Dec. 22, 2024. Yet the timing remains in question, with the United Nations and others doubting whether adequate preparations have been made.
The proposed vote follows years of delays: An election was due to take place in 2015 but was postponed after the young country descended into civil war.
North Carolina's Republican candidate for governor promised to stay in the race on Thursday after CNN reported that he once called himself a "black NAZI!"
North Carolina Republican gubernatorial nominee Mark Robinson has vowed to remain in his race despite a CNN media report about inflammatory comments it says he made online