South Sudan Delays Election to December 2026 Amid Crises

South Sudan has postponed its long-awaited elections to December 22, 2026, citing incomplete critical tasks such as conducting a census, drafting a permanent constitution, and registering political parties. This marks the second delay since the 2018 peace deal, which aimed to stabilize the country following a devastating civil war between President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar. The delay has been recommended by electoral institutions and the security sector but has faced significant criticism and raised concerns about further unrest. South Sudan continues to grapple with severe economic issues, including unpaid civil servants and disrupted oil exports due to a damaged pipeline in neighboring Sudan. Additionally, the country faces ongoing politically driven ethnic violence and a new security act permitting warrantless detentions, drawing human rights concerns. International observers remain frustrated with the slow pace of progress towards a stable democratic process.