South Sudan

Even if it had another decade, the country is unlikely to be ready for elections in a manner that would satisfy most stakeholders. South Sudan's polls will take place on 22 December 2024, despite objections from several quarters. 

South Sudan documented 240 incidents of violence which resulted into 468 deaths and 328 injuries, the UN mission in country (UNMISS) said. The latest quarterly brief by UNMISS, covering the period between January and March 2024, also recorded 70 abductions and conflict-related sexual violence. This, according to the mission, represents a 24 percent increase in the number of violent incidents when compared to the same period last year.

South Sudan government and the holdout groups not signatory to the September 2018 peace agreement on Monday agreed on eight protocols, raising prospect of a possible agreement in the coming days.

South Sudan’s long awaited elections will be held on December 22, the country’s National Election Commission (NEC) has announced.

The principals that are signatory to the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), are expected on Wednesday to decide on the fate of elections slated for December this year. … Many peace parties, including the armed opposition faction led by First Vice President Riek Machar have been calling for postponement of the scheduled December 2024 elections, citing the need to first implement the provisions in the agreement which serve as prerequisites for the conduct of the elections.

South Sudan’s opposition and civil society groups, currently negotiating a political deal with their government in Nairobi, say they want the talks to lead to a new constitution so that the country can start from a clean slate.

[…] Resolution 2731 (2024) … was adopted by a recorded vote of 9 votes in favour (Ecuador, France, Japan, Malta, Republic of Korea, Slovenia, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States) to none against, with 6 abstentions (Algeria, China, Guyana, Mozambique, Russian Federation and Sierra Leone).

South Sudan government and rebel opposition groups on Thursday signed a commitment declaration for lasting peace.

South Sudan is facing an economic meltdown that could bring not only hardship but also political turmoil to a country already wracked with both. The civil war in Sudan has severely disrupted oil exports, depriving South Sudanese coffers of petrodollars, the government’s main source of revenue. 

[…] According to the UN relief agency, this year’s humanitarian appeal for South Sudan remains severely underfunded, which is challenging response efforts. It also noted that only 11 percent of the $1.8 billion required has been received to date.