Election delay rumors in South Sudan swirl amid closed-door talks

JUBA – A shadow of uncertainty has been cast over South Sudan’s upcoming elections, with a senior government official claiming a six-month postponement is on the cards.

Party signatories to the revitalized peace agreement reportedly reached a “cordial agreement” during a recent closed-door consultation to push back the December 2024 vote.

“The parties have deliberated and agreed that the elections need a six-month extension,” the official told Sudans Post on condition of anonymity yesterday. “An announcement will be made at the appropriate time.”

The alleged agreement comes amidst ongoing challenges in implementing the revitalized peace agreement signed in 2018.

Machar has previously expressed concerns about the country’s readiness for elections, citing delays in key provisions like constitutional reforms and security arrangements.

While Kiir has publicly maintained commitment to the 2024 timeline, the internal discussions suggest a different story.

The official described a closed-door consensus in Juba last Tuesday reached by the parties during the consultations, with the announcement only awaiting public disclosure.

“All the parties let’s say the SPLM-IG, the SPLM-IO, and SSOA, and others see it that way and a postponement is about to happen,” he said.

“The president and the first vice president will make an announcement in June about this extension,” he added.

The official is referring to a two-day consultative dialogue organized by Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) last week.

The parties during that initiative urged the government to “urgently provide ample and adequate funding” to the National Electoral Commission (NEC), Permanent Political Commission (PPC), and National Constitutional Review Commission (NCRC).”

They also parties called upon the government to provide “professional security for NEC staff, election candidates, political parties, voters, and installations during elections period.”

This potential delay adds another layer of complexity to the already fragile political landscape.

South Sudan has yet to hold its first elections since independence in 2011, with previous attempts thwarted by violence and political hurdles.

The December 2024 target was itself a postponement from an earlier deadline.

If confirmed, a six-month delay would raise further questions about the long-term stability of the peace agreement and the country’s commitment to democratic transition.