U.S. and allies renew disappointment over South Sudan elections delay

OSLO – The Troika countries, comprising the United States, the United Kingdom, and Norway, on Wednesday expressed deep disappointment with South Sudan’s decision to extend its transitional period and the postponement of elections.

South Sudan’s parties to the revitalized peace agreement in September agreement to extend the country’s transitional period for two years, from February 2025, to February 2027, and delaying elections, which would have taken place later this year, to December 2026.

The parties, mainly the main opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) led by First Vice President Riek Machar, and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) led by President Salva Kiir, said the extension was to give more time for peace implementation.

The Troika has been calling on the parties to create conditions necessary for elections and had expressed concerns over the delay.

In a new joint statement released on Wednesday, the Troika countries reaffirmed their concerns urged South Sudan’s political leaders to publish a credible timetable for elections and to commence voter registration immediately.

“Troika partners agreed that a credible timetable of election preparations should be published by the government as a priority, and we call on the government to commence voter registration as an essential first step,” they said.

“Impunity for human rights violations must end, and we will continue to call for removal of the recent amendments to the NSS Act, which authorize warrant-free detentions and arrests, and other measures which restrict civil and political space,” they added.

The Troika also reaffirmed its support for the Tumaini Initiative, urging South Sudanese leaders to seize the opportunity to achieve a sustainable peace.

“Furthermore, we reaffirm our support to Kenya to sustain the Tumaini Initiative and urge South Sudanese leaders, both signatories and non-signatories, to take full advantage of these talks in the interests of creating a sustainable peace,” they said.

“The leaders of South Sudan have demonstrated a lack of political will and have instead conserved power in the hands of a small elite. The international community must be clear that we will not support a status quo that promotes the privileges of a few over the welfare of the people of South Sudan,” they added.

The Troika, which is the largest international donor group to South Sudan, further warned that the extended transitional period must be used to demonstrate a genuine commitment to implementing the peace agreement.

“We agree that the forthcoming extension period is absolutely essential for the transitional government to demonstrate to the international community and the people of South Sudan its commitment to implement the peace agreement,” they said.

“Troika representatives agreed that South Sudan’s leaders’ actions in the weeks ahead will demonstrate whether they have the political will to meet their long overdue commitments within the current extension period. The Troika will remain focused on developments in South Sudan at this critical time,” they added.