UN Special Representative for South Sudan, Nicholas Haysom, held his first press briefing on October 9 following the country’s decision to extend its transitional period. He emphasized the importance of making this extension count as South Sudan’s first-ever democratic elections have been postponed by two years, now scheduled for December 2026.
Haysom stressed, “As the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has said, the only way forward is for South Sudan’s leaders to find compromises and effectively implement the critical political and operational benchmarks set out in the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS). They must make this extension meaningful to retain the trust of their people, and from our perspective, the clock is ticking.”
The UN is working closely with political parties at national and state levels to raise awareness and drive progress toward holding elections. However, many key questions raised over a year ago, such as the type of elections, participation of refugees and displaced persons, and issues of proportional representation, remain unanswered.
Haysom explained that these foundational issues are critical to ensuring that elections reflect the will of the people. The UN and its partners are facilitating political forums across the country to create an environment where citizens can vote freely, politicians can express their views without inciting violence, and the media can operate without censorship.
He highlighted positive outcomes from these forums, such as an agreement between civil society and national security representatives in Bor, which fostered mutual understanding. Such local collaborations, he noted, are vital to building a united South Sudanese society.
However, challenges persist. Haysom expressed concern about proposed amendments to the National Security Service Act, stating that certain clauses are incompatible with democratic principles and could undermine the elections. He urged government partners to reconsider these provisions.
The UNMISS and UNDP, through the UN Integrated Electoral Assistance Team, are currently supporting the National Elections Commission by providing training to State High Elections Committee members as part of ongoing efforts to build institutional capacity for a successful democratic transition.