WASHINGTON: The United States, the United Kingdom, and Norway expressed “deep concern” on Saturday over South Sudan’s announcement of a two-year delay in elections, labeling the extension of the transitional government a “failure.”
“This announcement highlights the ongoing failure of South Sudan’s leaders to create the necessary conditions for credible and peaceful elections,” the three governments stated jointly.
Since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan has faced civil war, which erupted two years later and resulted in an estimated 400,000 deaths. Although a 2018 peace deal unified President Salva Kiir and his rival, Vice President Riek Machar, efforts to draft a constitution and hold the country’s first elections have consistently stalled.
Last week, Kiir’s office announced the postponement of the December elections by another two years, just ahead of a deadline for dissolving the transitional government. Cabinet Affairs Minister Martin Elia Lomuro attributed the delay to recommendations from electoral institutions and the security sector.
The joint statement from the three nations acknowledged that the elections could not proceed as planned, attributing the delay to “a lack of political will.” They noted, “Responsibility for this failure is shared by all parties in the transitional government.” As leaders compete for power without organizing credible elections, the South Sudanese people bear the brunt of the consequences.
The United Nations also expressed “regret and disappointment” over the delay, with special representative Nicholas Haysom emphasizing that support had been contingent on avoiding further extensions.
South Sudan continues to grapple with flooding, hunger, and violence, while its leaders appear hesitant to face elections, amid allegations of widespread corruption. Recently, the UN’s humanitarian agency warned that over 700,000 people have been affected by flooding, with aid efforts falling short. Despite its rich oil resources, South Sudan’s revenue stream was disrupted in February when a key export pipeline was damaged in the conflict-ridden Sudan.
