By Enyichukwu Enemanna
South Sudan has postponed its national elections to February 11, 2027, a timetable issued by the country’s National Elections Commission indicates, in another delay to its first election since it gained independence in 2011.
Presidential and parliamentary elections were earlier scheduled for December 22.
“This is the timeline we have come up with after a thorough consultation with the stakeholders,” Josephine Achiro Fortelo, commissioner of the National Elections Commission and its spokesperson said on Saturday, confirming the new date.
The commission in a statement said the postponement was necessary, to provide additional time for preparations for the elections.
The ongoing electoral preparations include the distribution and deployment of voter registration materials, establishment of registration centres, voter registration and logistical arrangements, the commission said.
South Sudan has been formally at peace since a 2018 deal ended a five-year conflict that led to the killing of thousands of people.
Violence between rival communities is however recurrent in the country.
In September, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan said the country lacked safeguards and conditions for peaceful and credible elections.
