With Yaba Odongo Odoyo

Election fever for 2026 has already gripped the political class. That phone call from a friend got me thinking of the electioneering period and that it is time to start preparing along with the fever in the region with neighbouring Tanzania polls set for October this year and Uganda’s in  January 2026. Kenya, on the other hand, will be heading to the ballot in 2027, and camps are already peaching tent across the country.

Political temperatures already simmering, with South Sudan having postponed elections to next year December, a move aimed at inclusivity and stability, according to Ambassador Santino Fardol W. Dicken.

The Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity recently announced that they are postponing South Sudan’s elections, originally scheduled for December 2024. The new date for the elections is now set for 2026, marking a two-year extension. This decision goes beyond addressing mere logistical challenges; it reflects South Sudan’s commitment to resolving essential issues to ensure a fair and credible electoral process. The delay allows the South Sudanese government to address crucial prerequisites for a successful election, including conducting a comprehensive constitutional review, establishing election laws, and completing a national census. These steps are essential for laying a solid foundation for a stable and democratic electoral process.  

While some have expressed disappointment at the delayed elections, the postponement intends to make the election inclusive by incorporating holdout groups involved in the ongoing Tumaini peace talks and others who may want to join the peace process mediated by Kenya. These groups remained outside the 2018 peace agreement, citing concerns over its implementation and lack of inclusivity.  

President Salva Kiir Mayardit has emphasized that the Tumaini talks do not replace the existing 2018 peace agreement but instead intends to address and integrate the concerns of the holdout groups within its framework. This approach aims to ensure inclusivity and prevent a cycle of conflict. The reconstituted delegation, led by General Kuol Manyang Juuk, was to engage constructively with the holdout groups to expedite the conclusion of the Tumaini peace negotiations, reflecting the government’s dedication to achieving lasting peace in South Sudan.  

These processes underpin President Kiir’s promise to guide South Sudan on a path of peace and progress, adhering to his principle of “never taking his people to war again.” The signing of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan in 2018 has brought relative peace in South Sudan, and that is what the signatories of the agreement are trying to maintain.  

In this vein, South Sudan calls on its international partners, especially the Africa Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and the Troika (Norway, the UK, and the United States), to support its decision, recognizing the postponed elections as a necessary step toward sustainable peace. A free, fair, and inclusive election—conducted only when all conditions are right—offers the best path forward for South Sudan and mitigates the risk of instability that could arise from a premature vote. With adequate support, this move toward a well-prepared election could be a significant milestone in South Sudan’s journey toward long-term peace and democracy.

The vote was delayed for a number of reasons, including the need for more time to complete a census, draft a permanent constitution and register political parties.

The postponement, extended the term of the current transitional government, headed by President Salva Kiir.

Abendengo Akok, head of South Sudan’s National Electoral Commission, told VOA that the political will must be present for the vote to be successful, using as an example the 2018 peace agreement that ended the country’s civil war.

“If we are serious, two years are enough for us to run the election,” Akok said, adding that adequate funding is necessary for a successful vote.

Nicholas Haysom, the head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), had warned that mismanaged elections could reignite violence and upset South Sudan’s stability.

“We have been insisting that properly prepared elections, which have also been preceded by proper trust-building exercises, can play a significant role in taking an exercise which can be very divisive and make it a nation-building exercise,” he said.

People coming together to vote, he said, will help them recognize that “together they control the future of South Sudan.”

South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011. The country was set to hold its maiden election in 2015, but civil war broke out in 2013. Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar, In 2018, Kiir and Machar signed the comprehensive peace agreement, June, however, Kiir and Machar agreed to push the election to another two years.

Wani Yusuf was 14 years old when he cast his vote in the referendum to secede from Sudan. Now he looks forward to casting his first vote as an adult and believes he will make an informed and independent decision in helping choose South Sudan’s first democratically elected government.

Yusuf, however, questioned whether the 2026 vote will materialize.

“When you look at the period that we spend postponing the election, it still tells you that, if they cannot conduct election in that time up to now, then there is also high possibility that election might not take place within those two years’ time,” he said.

Apart from budgetary constraints, the electoral commission still needs to conduct a census and draw up guidelines, which will take up to 17 months, according to the document outlining the delay in the vote.

These processes have not started because of lack of a budget, according to Gabriel Deng, the electoral commission’s deputy chair.

Yaba (Jaduong) Odongo Odoyo is a leading   commentator, writer and established Editor with long standing career in journalism and media industry internationally. The comments and insight shared are his own. You can contact him at +211921351878, +254795226883 or e-mail: odoyo2002@gmail.com.