South Sudan postpones first national elections to February 2027

South Sudan has postponed its first national elections since gaining independence in 2011, moving the presidential and parliamentary polls from December 22, 2026, to February 11, 2027.

The country’s National Elections Commission announced the revised date on Saturday in an updated electoral calendar, marking another delay in the long-awaited vote.

The elections have been repeatedly postponed amid political divisions, insecurity and challenges in implementing a peace agreement intended to guide the country’s transition to democratic governance.

The commission did not give a specific reason for the latest postponement. Its spokesperson, Josephine Achiro Fortelo, said the revised timetable followed consultations with stakeholders.

The announcement came as voter registration was scheduled to begin on Saturday, with more than 3,100 registration centres established across the country. However, officials said some centres had yet to receive all the necessary equipment.

The United Nations has repeatedly raised concerns about South Sudan’s readiness to conduct peaceful and credible elections, warning that the deteriorating security situation could trigger renewed conflict.

President Salva Kiir’s government forces and supporters of detained opposition leader and former Vice-President Riek Machar have been involved in escalating confrontations in recent months.

Machar has been under house arrest since March 2025 and faces charges including crimes against humanity.

South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011 but descended into civil war in 2013 following a power struggle between Kiir and Machar. The conflict killed an estimated 400,000 people before a 2018 peace agreement formally ended the five-year war.

The February 2027 election will be the country's first since independence, following several postponements linked to political and security challenges.