On December 22, South Sudan is scheduled to hold its first general election since independence. However, preparations remain incomplete, raising questions over whether the vote can deliver a credible political transition. Officials acknowledge funding delays and legal gaps over administrative areas. Voter registration, civic education, and key legal arrangements also remain unfinished. Security preparations are incomplete as well, including the deployment of unified forces required under the 2018 peace agreement. The absence of opposition leader Riek Machar, who has been under house arrest since March 2025 and is facing trial, adds another complication. Nevertheless, 39 political parties have agreed to maintain the election timetable. The situation favors President Salva Kiir’s government, granting it control over the electoral timetable. However, a poorly prepared or exclusionary vote could undermine legitimacy and deepen political tensions.