Lawyers in South Sudan have filed a lawsuit challenging President Salva Kiir’s decision to postpone the country’s first democratic elections and extend his transitional government’s term for another two years. The case, filed with the Supreme Court, argues that the postponement, announced by Kiir’s office ten days prior, is unconstitutional and illegal.
Summary:
- International guarantors of the South Sudanese peace process have expressed disappointment over the delay, viewing it as a failure to uphold the 2018 peace agreement
- Deng John Deng stressed their demand for the government to hold elections within the established timeframe
The lawyers are demanding the government hold elections within the designated timeframe. Originally slated for December 2024, the elections have already been delayed once before in 2022. This recent postponement was ratified by parliament last week after receiving cabinet endorsement.
International guarantors of the South Sudanese peace process have expressed disappointment over the delay, viewing it as a failure by the government to uphold the 2018 peace agreement. While the agreement formally ended a five-year conflict that resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths, violence between rival communities continues to erupt.
Deng John Deng, representing the group of lawyers who filed the lawsuit, spoke to reporters outside the Supreme Court, emphasizing the unconstitutional nature of the election postponement.
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He stressed their demand for the government to hold elections within the established timeframe. As of yet, Michael Makuei, the South Sudan Information Minister and Government spokesperson, has not issued a response to requests for comment.
