South Sudan Delays First National Elections to February Amid Rising Tensions

South Sudan has postponed its first national elections from December to February. The elections were scheduled for December 22 but have faced multiple delays amid increasing ethnic and political tensions.

The electoral commission announced the new date of February 11 on social media, stating that results would be revealed four days later. This change comes after the United Nations warned that holding elections could lead to widespread conflict.

Ahon Malou Lueth, the commission’s secretary general, confirmed the delay but did not provide specific reasons. The country has seen deadly confrontations between government forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and supporters of detained former Vice President Riek Machar.

South Sudan has faced ongoing issues, including ethnic tensions and cattle-rustling, complicating the situation in one of the world’s poorest nations. Since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan has experienced a civil war from 2013 to 2018 that resulted in at least 400,000 deaths.

Machar has been under house arrest since March 2025, facing accusations of crimes against humanity. The announcement of the new election date coincided with the planned start of voter registration, although officials noted that not all necessary equipment had arrived at the registration centers.

The UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan has raised alarms about the country’s conditions, including the displacement of many people and the disruption of humanitarian efforts. They have warned that the current tensions increase the risk of renewed conflict and serious crimes.