South Sudan: Credible Elections Are No Longer Possible in South Sudan - What Next?

South Sudan's cabinet approved legal amendments in preparation for the December 2026 elections, despite a UN report indicating a lack of conditions for peaceful and credible polls. The country has not held national elections since its independence in 2011 due to recurring armed conflicts. The political rivalry between President Salva Kiir and First Vice-President Riek Machar has exacerbated the crisis, while ongoing technical and political issues continue to undermine the transition.