South Sudan’s First National Election Delayed Amid Doubts Over Credible Vote

A first vote postponed

Officials announced on Saturday that South Sudan’s first national election would be delayed. Analysts had warned that the vote, originally scheduled for December, faced a legitimacy crisis and might not produce a credible result.

Peace deal under strain

A civil war erupted in 2013 between government forces and forces loyal to opposition leader Riek Machar. A 2018 peace agreement made Machar vice president in a transitional government, and the planned election was meant to support that arrangement.

The peace deal has weakened since March 2025, when Machar was put under house arrest in Juba and charged with treason. In recent months, the government has replaced opposition lawmakers with its supporters and dissolved the unity government.

Obstacles to credible polls

The vote also faces major practical challenges. Civil servants have gone unpaid for more than a year, and armed groups control parts of the country, including forces loyal to Machar.

Warnings over renewed violence

The International Crisis Group told the U.N. Security Council this week that conditions for credible polls were not in place. It warned that rushed elections could undermine the 2018 framework and risk a return to sustained large-scale violence.

In an interview, an unidentified speaker said elections could benefit the country’s sovereignty and the state’s mandate, while acknowledging that the outcome was not always certain. The article does not identify the speaker.