South Sudan postpones general elections to 11 February 2027

Athe first general elections in South Sudan will take place on 11 February 2027, instead of the originally scheduled date of 22 December, the election committee announced today.

The committee did not advance the reasons for the postponement of the vote in 51 days, nor did it clarify whether additional legal procedures are needed to formalise the new election date, it informed the Spanish EFE agency.

The postponement arises in a context of concerns about the country's preparation for the first general elections since Sudan's independence in 2011, after successive delays, financial limitations and persistent insecurity in several areas.

According to the schedule, the manual census of voters will begin today, November 14, following the publication of a provisional electoral register for consultation of citizens.

The application process will take place between December 2026 and January 2027, with the publication of the final list of candidates scheduled for 18 January.

The committee reserves 45 days for the election campaign, to be held between December 27th and February 9th, with February 10th dedicated to the reflection prior to the vote.

The scrutiny and clearance of results shall be carried out at state and administrative level before consolidation at national level.

The announcement of the final results was scheduled for February 17.

The new timetable also includes the settlement of electoral disputes and the possibility of a second round.

The new voting date takes place within 11 days of the expected end of the transition period in South Sudan on 22 February 2027.

The margin is considered to be reduced to resolve potential electoral disputes and to conclude the transition to democratically legitimated institutions, according to the EFE.

The UN Human Rights Commission in South Sudan warned at the end of October of the conditions under which the elections would take place, such as the absence of a Constitution and obstacles to voter registration.

He also considered the dissolution of the government of national union as a “constitutional coup” before a vote that, “in these conditions”, ran the risk of “starting a war”, as the French agency AFP quoted at the time.

Former Vice President Riek Machar, President Salva Kiir’s main opponent, has been in house arrest since March 2025, accused of “crimes against humanity”.

The country of East Africa suffered a bloody civil war, with more than 400,000 dead, between the forces of Machar and Kiir, from 2013 to 2018.

Since then, there have been prolonged clashes between forces loyal to the two leaders.

A peace agreement, signed in September 2018, established a transition framework to restore stability and prepare the ground for elections.

However, the implementation of the agreement has repeatedly run into political differences, lack of funding and security problems.

The Juba Government has presented elections as a key step towards ending the prolonged transition period.

Opposition groups and civil society organisations, for their part, have questioned whether the political and security environment ensures a credible and inclusive electoral process.

The calendar released today leaves less than three months to complete the essential logistical and operational preparations, including the census of voters and submission of applications throughout the country.