Since gaining independence in 2011, South Sudan has yet to hold general elections.

Elections have been postponed repeatedly—first from 2015 to 2018, then to 2024, and now to December 2026. Will elections finally take place in 2026? Why the repeated delays? Who benefits from them? And what does this mean for the country’s democratic future?

In this webinar, the African Election Observers Network (AfEONet) and the East and Horn of Africa Election Observers Network (E-HORN) explore:

• The root causes behind the continued postponement of elections
• Political incentives to retain power and avoid elections
• The democratic and developmental costs of repeated delays
• Institutional weaknesses that hinder electoral readiness
• Credibility benchmarks needed for the 2026 elections to be considered free and fair