South Sudan will hold its first national elections since independence on December 22, the National Election Commission (NEC) confirmed on Monday, ending years of repeated delays even as the country faces a dire security situation and severe funding shortfalls.
Election Date Confirmed Amid Challenges
NEC chairperson Abednego Akok Kacuol announced the date, but cautioned that multiple conditions required under the 2018 peace agreement are still not in place. The commission has received only $21 million of a proposed $250 million election budget, and security remains a major concern.
“There are many challenges facing the commission,” Kacuol said, urging the government “to provide all basic needs.”
Background of Delays and Conflict
Under the 2018 peace deal that ended a civil war between President Salva Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar, elections were originally scheduled for 2022. They were delayed to 2024, then again to this year. The peace agreement has largely collapsed, and the country remains mired in deep poverty, corruption, and violence.
International observers have warned that the deteriorating security situation could lead to a return to full-blown conflict. Government forces under Kiir are battling groups loosely aligned with Machar, who remains in jail.
Significance of the Polls
If they go ahead, the December 22 elections will be the first since South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011. International patience over the endless delays has worn thin, and the polls are seen as a critical test for the country's fragile peace process.
