South Sudan leaders agree to postpone 2024 elections over impracticalities

A senior official from the main armed opposition group, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO), made this disclosure to the Sudans Post.

“The chairman and commander-in-chief and the first vice president, H.E Dr Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon, have agreed with Salva Kiir to postpone the election. He proposed the extension and because everyone, including our internal partners, sees that there is no possibility for elections, Salva has agreed in principle for the idea,” the official is quoted.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the opposition official did not specify the exact timing of the agreement but indicated that the two rivals had "agreed in principle" to delay the elections. They are currently refining the terms of the postponement, including extending the transitional period.

According to the official, Dr Riek Machar proposed the extension, recognizing the impracticality of holding elections at the present moment, and President Salva Kiir has tentatively agreed to the idea. This move signals a potential shift in the political landscape of South Sudan, with both parties seemingly willing to collaborate on critical issues.

The senior official further revealed that Machar and Kiir will assemble a team of experts from their respective parties, along with civil society organizations, to fine-tune the details of the agreement. This includes determining the timeframe for elections and addressing concerns such as unilateral actions taken by the president.

South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in July 2011 but has been embroiled in a protracted civil war, delaying planned elections initially set for 2015. Despite the signing of a peace deal in 2015, brokered by regional powers, including neighbouring countries, the agreement collapsed within a year, prolonging the country's political instability.