Africa-Press. The first elections in South Sudan’s history, which have been postponed several times, will be held on December 22, according to an announcement from the electoral commission of the world’s newest nation, which gained independence in 2011 and is experiencing a power struggle and severe insecurity.
The head of the national electoral commission, Abednego Akok Kakoul, stated during a press conference in Juba that “the elections will take place on December 22,” noting the “multiple challenges” facing his institution.
Kakoul urged the government to address the “existing legal gaps” and provide the necessary funds to allow the commission to organize the elections “within the remaining months” of the year, mentioning that $21 million is currently available for this process, which requires a total of $250 million to organize.
The head of the national electoral commission emphasized that “the political will does not depend on us but on the government,” considering it possible to make the necessary legislative amendments and form electoral lists in a short timeframe.
Abednego Akok Kakoul also addressed the issue of security among the challenges mentioned, as several areas have witnessed clashes for months between the army loyal to President Kiir and groups supporting Riek Machar, who was removed from the position of vice president, accused of “crimes against humanity,” and placed under house arrest in 2025.
Voters on this occasion will be called to choose the head of state, deputies, and members of the executive and legislative authorities in the country’s 10 states and three administrative divisions.
In 2018, a peace agreement was reached that ended five years of brutal war, resulting in 400,000 deaths and 4 million displaced persons, and established a unity government between the two rivals, Salva Kiir (president) and Riek Machar (vice president), during a transitional period that was supposed to end in 2022 with elections that have been postponed multiple times.
In 2024, President Salva Kiir, who has been in power since the country’s independence, postponed these elections, which were then scheduled for December of that year.
South Sudan ranks last in the Human Development Index and is very low on the corruption index compiled by Transparency International. The international community has repeatedly urged the authorities in South Sudan to hold elections as soon as possible.
