The South Sudanese transitional government has extended its stay and postponed elections to 2026. The South Sudanese electorates will now have to wait another two years after parties to the 2018 peace agreement protracted the current transitional period to 2026.
The elections were scheduled to take place on December 22, 2024, which marks the country’s first presidential election since becoming independent and a republic 13 years ago.
A meeting held by the South Sudanese President, Salva Kiir, together with his deputies, members of the cabinet, and advisors in Juba on Friday resolved to have the said decision effected, the Sudan Tribune reported.
According to the Cabinet Affairs minister, Martin Elia Lomuro, the extension is needed for the implementation of the key pending issues in the peace deal. This after the parties received the recommendations from the electoral bodies and the security sector.
“The extension is in response to the recommendations from the electoral institutions and the security sector. It is an opportunity to implement the pending issues in the peace deal,” Lomuro said.
“The government will not be dissolved and will continue to function as usual while the institutions work to finalize their provisions,” he added.
Presidential Advisor on National Security, Hon. Tut Gatluak, said the extension will provide room for the implementation of the protocols in R-ARCSS, such as the permanent constitutional process, the census,, and the registration of political parties.
This is the second time the transitional parties are signing two-year extensions, which has drawn a mixed reaction from the South Sudanese residents. The peace parties first signed a two-year extension in August 2022 to allow for the full implementation of the September 2018 peace treaty.
