Politics · Other · 2 hrs ago
South Sudan delays first national elections to February 11, 2027
South Sudan’s election commission moved the country’s first national elections to February 11, 2027, from December 22.
The vote will choose the country’s president and parliament, and has been delayed several times since it was first expected in 2022.
South Sudan became independent from Sudan in 2011, then endured a civil war from 2013 to 2018 between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and followers of rival Riek Machar.
Violence and political tensions remain high, and Machar has been under house arrest since March 2025.
The commission announced the new date on the day voter registration was due to begin, but gave no reason for postponing the vote.
Registration is scheduled to run from November 14 to November 28 at 3,161 centres across the country.
The delay leaves the election timetable in place for now, though civic groups and United Nations officials have warned that conditions may not support a peaceful, credible vote.
South Sudan has postponed its first national elections since independence to February 11, 2027, from December 22, 2026.
The National Elections Commission announced the revised date on November 14 but did not give a reason for the change.
The vote has been delayed several times, and the country faces insecurity and escalating political and ethnic tensions.
Voter registration is scheduled to run from November 14 to November 28 at 3,161 centres.
The elections are for the presidency and parliament.
- Who
- South Sudan’s National Elections Commission set the revised date for the national elections.
- What
- The first national elections since independence were postponed from December 22, 2026, to February 11, 2027.
- When
- The new polling date is February 11, 2027. The change was announced on November 14, 2026.
- Where
- South Sudan.
- Why
- The commission did not state a reason. The reports describe insecurity, political and ethnic tensions, funding shortages and concerns about readiness.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
South Sudan became independent from Sudan.
Forces loyal to Salva Kiir and Riek Machar fought a civil war.
A peace deal was signed, followed by the formation of a transitional government of national unity in 2020.
Kiir dissolved the transitional unity government and replaced it with a caretaker administration.
The elections had been scheduled to take place before the commission changed the date.
The commission announced that polling would take place on February 11, 2027.
- New polling date
- February 11, 2027
- Previous polling date
- December 22, 2026
- Registration period
- November 14–28, 2026
- Registration centres
- 3,161
- Election types
- Presidential and parliamentary
7 sources
South Sudan delays first national elections again, setting February vote
بعد 15 عاماً من الاستقلال.. جنوب السودان يؤجل أول انتخاباته إلى 2027
South Sudan postpones first-ever national elections until February
South Sudan pushes back first national elections to February
South Sudan postpones first national elections until February
South Sudan delays election to February 11 2027
South Sudanese start registering to vote ahead of first national elections
What people are saying
This is the timeline we have come up with after a thorough consultation with the stakeholders
Elections must be a milestone in the transition, not its conclusion. Elections cannot substitute for political dialogue, confidence-building and continued implementation of the Peace Agreement
This amounts to a constitutional coup through legislative reforms
Not stated