South Sudan is scheduled to hold its first-ever national election in December after two previous postponements, but questions remain over the country’s readiness. Weak institutions, delayed voter registration, unresolved security reforms, and the detention of First Vice President Riek Machar have fueled calls for another extension. They contend that holding elections, however imperfect, benefits ordinary citizens, roughly 80% of whom support voting despite the risk of violence. Proponents say that proceeding with the election could force the ruling party to clarify President Salva Kiir’s succession, reducing uncertainty around future leadership. In contrast, continued delay benefits entrenched elites who avoid accountability. This matters over time because unresolved succession risks violent elite infighting if Kiir’s rule ends unexpectedly, while indefinite postponement has repeatedly failed to deliver the reforms it promised since 2018.
The Conversation