South Sudan postpones first national elections to February 2027

South Sudan, the world’s youngest country, on Saturday postponed its first national elections from December to February 2027 amid growing ethnic and political tensions.

The legislative and presidential elections had been scheduled for December 22, 2026, after being delayed several times. The United Nations had warned that holding the vote could trigger widespread conflict.

The electoral commission issued a revised calendar on social media, setting February 11, 2027, as the new voting date, with results expected to be announced four days later.

The commission’s Secretary-General, Ahon Malou Lueth, confirmed the change to AFP but declined to give a reason or provide further details.

Forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and supporters of detained former Vice-President Riek Machar have been involved in escalating and deadly confrontations in recent months.

Other ethnic tensions and cattle-rustling battles have also complicated the situation in one of the world’s poorest countries.

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South Sudan became independent from Sudan in 2011, but forces loyal to Kiir and Machar fought a civil war between 2013 and 2018 that killed at least 400,000 people.

Machar has been under house arrest since March 2025 and is accused of crimes against humanity.

The new election date was announced on the day voter registration was scheduled to begin, with more than 3,100 centres established across the country. However, officials said not all the necessary equipment had arrived at the centres.

The United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan has issued several warnings about conditions in the country, including the displacement of tens of thousands of people, deadly clashes and disruptions to international humanitarian operations.

The commission has said tensions in recent months have heightened “the risk of renewed conflict and atrocity crimes”. In October, it also warned that holding an election could trigger renewed conflict.