Updated

South Sudan has postponed its first national elections from December to February 11, 2027, amid flare-ups of violence and political strife, according to Deutsche Welle. The National Elections Commission said the change was made to allow voter registration and civic education, and that it did not amount to a postponement, since Article 57 gives it power to adjust timelines. Deutsche Welle reported that the vast majority of South Sudanese lack state-recognised ID, which complicates voter registration, though thousands of registration centres have been set up. The country became independent from Sudan in July 2011 and has never held national elections. A 2013 to 2018 civil war between forces backed by President Salva Kiir, a Dinka, and troops loyal to Vice President Riek Machar, a Nuer, killed more than 400,000 people. A fragile 2018 peace deal was followed by a unity government in 2020, but Kiir dissolved the transitional government in September, now rules by decree, and has fired Machar, who faces treason charges and is under house arrest. The UN mission head, Anita Kiki Ghebo, warned that violence is rising and that about 10 million people need humanitarian aid, and urged renewed dialogue on the peace agreement.