Will elections be held in December 2026 in South Sudan?
Publication Summary
South Sudan’s scheduled national elections in December 2026 face grave uncertainty due to ongoing political turmoil, party divisions, and stalled implementation of the 2018 Revitalized Agreement (R-ARCSS). Armed conflict in Upper Nile state in March 2023 led to the detention and splitting of the main opposition, the SPLM-IO, disrupting peace efforts. The ruling SPLM-IG party has also experienced instability with leadership changes and frequent ministerial turnover, though recent reinstatements have provided some relative calm. Other parties to the agreement, including opposition alliances, remain divided and mistrustful, further impeding progress. In September 2024, all parties extended the transitional period by two years, pledging no further delays, even as public support for elections persists despite fears of violence. Critical legal and logistical barriers remain: the National Elections Act requires elections to be based on a yet-to-be-promulgated Permanent Constitution and constituency delineation, but no population census has occurred. Proposed solutions include holding elections only in existing constituencies, partial executive elections, forming a technocratic government, or resuming peace talks. Ultimately, inclusive dialogue—especially with various stakeholders—is emphasized as essential for credible elections and lasting peace.
Luka Biong Deng Kuol's Biography
Luka Biong Deng is a Senior Research Fellow and Consultant at the Sudd Institute, an Adjunct Professor of Peace, Development, and Security Studies at the University of Juba, and an Adjunct Distinguished Professor of African Security Studies at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (ACSS), National Defense University, USA. He served in various capacities in the governments of Sudan and South Sudan, with think-tanks around the world and a member of various global expert groups including Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Famine Review Committee and the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) Global Advisory Panel on the Future of Human Action. Dr. Deng holds a Ph.D. in Development Studies Policy from the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), University of Sussex, UK.