The government of South Sudan is holding an emergency cabinet meeting hours after it announced that long-delayed national elections would be postponed by two years. The polls were due to take place this December.
A 2018 peace deal that ended a civil war allowed President Salva Kiir to remain in charge of a transitional government with his former foe Riek Machar serving as his deputy. South Sudan, the world’s youngest country, has not held national elections since independence in 2011.
The decision to postpone the vote by another two years has not come as a great surprise. The political leaders of South Sudan have not exactly been racing to get ready for a vote. This has fuelled suspicion that they are clinging onto power in the oil-rich country.
President Salva Kiir’s office says essential tasks like writing a new constitution have to happen before an election. Officials have also cited logistical and security challenges, which could not be overcome by the end of the year.
Those in charge are the same leaders who plunged the country into a five-year civil war.
Given the current relative peace and the fact that neighbouring Sudan is being destroyed by conflict, South Sudan’s politicians may not come under much international pressure.