The government of South Sudan is holding an emergency cabinet meeting hours after it announced that long-delayed national elections would be postponed by two years. The polls were due to take place this December.

South Sudan's government has announced the postponement of long-overdue general elections to December 2026, citing a lack of preparedness. Presidential Adviser on National Security, Tut Gatluak, said that the extension would allow time to finalize key processes before the newly scheduled election date of December 22,

The government in South Sudan has postponed elections scheduled for December for two years citing the need to complete processes such as a census, the drafting of a permanent constitution and registration of political parties.

South Sudan postponed elections that were due in December for two years, extending the mandate of the nation’s transition government.

South Sudan's transitional government on Friday announced the postponement of long-delayed elections and extended the transition period by two years after failing to meet key provisions of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict.

Leading South Sudanese academics and professionals have challenged the legality of extending South Sudan’s transitional period two more years, describing it as an unconstitutional and unilateral action to avert loss of legitimacy and constitutional crisis.

"The presidency, under the chairmanship of President Salva Kiir Mayardit, has announced an extension of the country's transitional period by two years as well as postponing elections, which were initially scheduled for December 2024 to December 22nd, 2026," Kiir's office said on Facebook.

South Sudan’s parliament has approved two laws on transitional justice that advance accountability and justice for victims of abuses committed since the start of the country’s armed conflict which broke out in December 2013.

South Sudan has delayed its December elections by two years to finalize crucial processes including a census, a permanent constitution, and political party registration. The decision, which marks the second postponement since independence,

The decision comes amid an economic crisis, exacerbated by a damaged oil pipeline and prolonged issues with oil exports.

Government says it needs more time to complete a census, draft a permanent constitution and register political parties.