The United Nations expressed strong disappointment on Wednesday over South Sudan’s decision to postpone its first elections by another two years.
South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, has faced ongoing challenges since a civil war erupted in 2013, resulting in the deaths of around 400,000 people.
The 2018 peace deal, which aimed to end the conflict between President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar, has failed to produce significant progress toward elections.
Kiir’s office recently announced that the elections scheduled for December would be delayed, a move that has drawn criticism from international supporters.
UN Special Representative Nicholas Haysom expressed frustration, noting that the country had failed to meet key preparations for the vote.
Haysom emphasized that only one of ten priority areas set by international bodies had been addressed.
He called for urgent action from South Sudan’s leaders, who he says have not adequately addressed past failures.
In addition to political setbacks, South Sudan has struggled with flooding, hunger, and corruption.
The UN’s humanitarian agency recently reported that over 700,000 people have been affected by flooding, with aid efforts falling short.
South Sudan’s oil resources, vital for revenue, have also been compromised due to a damaged export pipeline in Sudan.
