South Sudan elections may face further delays

Significance

However, despite considerable progress towards new electoral legislation, senior leaders from the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) are already suggesting the elections may need to be postponed until April 2025, further delaying the return to democratic rule.

Impacts

• Further delays will increase tensions within the SPLM and between the government, other parties and the international community.
• Deferred polls would delay an influx of international election-related financial support that could help kick-start the struggling economy.
• Holding polls without either trust between rival parties or an effective dispute resolution system could trigger fresh political violence.