South Sudan calls off elections as cabinet tries to extend presidential term

(Image credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

published 14 February 2015

South Sudan's June elections have reportedly been called off, and the country's cabinet is now planning to request that parliament approve an extension of President Salva Kiir, Reuters reports.

An extension of the presidency would also extend the terms of parliament members; government spokesman Michael Makuei said he was confident the proposal would pass.

The cabinet says an extension is necessary for the world's newest nation because of ongoing fighting between supporters of Kiir and supporters of his former vice president Riek Machar. While the two are working toward a peace agreement and power-sharing deal, such an accord is not expected to be completed until March; more than a million South Sudanese have had to flee violent protests and rebel attacks in the year since fighting between supporters of the two men began.

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Sarah Eberspacher is an associate editor at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked as a sports reporter at The Livingston County Daily Press & Argus and The Arizona Republic. She graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.