South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir issued a strong warning on Friday, stating that delaying the December 2024 elections could potentially lead the nation back into conflict. Despite international and opposition calls for postponement, Kiir emphasized the importance of adhering to the scheduled election timeline as outlined in the 2018 revitalized peace agreement.
“There are voices in Europe and America suggesting that holding elections on time could provoke conflict,” Kiir remarked. “I assure you, there will be no violence. It is delaying the elections that poses a risk of renewed war.”
Originally slated to conclude in 2023, the transitional government under the peace agreement was extended to February 2025 due to outstanding security arrangements. Recently, the National Elections Commission set December 22, 2024, as the election date, which has generated mixed reactions of optimism and skepticism.
Critics, including political opponents, civil society, and religious groups, question the feasibility of conducting credible elections by December. They cite logistical and economic challenges, and express concerns over inadequate efforts to establish independent oversight bodies, combat corruption, and create impartial judicial, security, and military institutions.
The security forces, still aligned with different factions of the peace agreement, face issues of training and integration into a unified command, casting doubt on their ability to ensure fair elections. Democratic institutions remain fragile, with limited power sharing and accountability, and opposition figures and media encounter threats and violence.
President Kiir’s SPLM party remains committed to the December election timeline, citing recent discussions on democratic transition strategies that reaffirmed this decision.
Observers caution that South Sudan faces significant hurdles before holding its first elections since gaining independence in 2011, emphasizing the precarious nature of the current situation.
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