International Peace Guarantors Criticize South Sudan’s Postponement of Elections

International Peace Guarantors Criticize South Sudan’s Postponement of Elections

International guarantors of South Sudan’s peace process have expressed disappointment over the transitional government’s decision to postpone the country’s elections, initially scheduled for December. The postponement, announced by President Salva Kiir last Friday, extends the transitional period by two more years, marking the second delay since the original 2022 election date.

The peace guarantors, including Britain, the United States, Norway, the European Union, Canada, France, Germany, and the Netherlands, said in a joint statement that the decision highlights the government’s failure to implement the 2018 peace agreement. “This reflects the failure of the transitional government to meet its commitments, despite assurances given with the release of the 2022 roadmap,” the statement read.

The elections were meant to mark a transition from the current unity government, led by President Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar, who were key figures in South Sudan’s civil war. Since the 2018 peace deal, the country has formally been at peace, but sporadic violence between rival communities continues to destabilize the region.

The international guarantors stressed that timely elections were the best path to lasting peace and urged South Sudanese leaders to take urgent steps to create conditions necessary for a credible vote.

South Sudan’s information minister, Michael Makuei, has yet to comment on the situation. Meanwhile, Nicholas Haysom, the United Nations special envoy for South Sudan, acknowledged that the country is not yet ready to hold elections under current conditions.