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Politics & Government Guide in South Sudan

Political system, governance structure, stability indicators, and democratic institutions

South Sudan remains under a prolonged transitional political arrangement led by President Salva Kiir Mayardit, with the 2018 peace agreement still only partially implemented. Despite the formal existence of a bicameral legislature and power-sharing institutions, elections have been repeatedly postponed and executive dominance remains strong.

Corruption Index

Poor

Democracy Index

Poor

Government Type

Presidential republic

Legal System

Mixed legal system of English common law, customary law, and elements of Islamic law; the 2011 Transitional Constitution and later transitional arrangements provide the main constitutional framework.

Head of State

President Salva Kiir Mayardit(since 2011)

Head of Government

President Salva Kiir Mayardit(Sudan People's Liberation Movement)since 2011

Political Indicators

Corruption Index
13Rank #176

Scale: 0-100

Transparency International (2024)

Press Freedom
49.7Rank #136

Scale: 0-100

Reporters Without Borders (2024)

Democracy Index
1.5

Scale: 0-10

Authoritarian regime

Economist Intelligence Unit (2024)

Legislature

Type:bicameral
Upper House:Council of States
Lower House:National Legislative Assembly

Major Political Parties

Sudan People's Liberation Movement(SPLM)

Dominant ruling party

seats
Sudan People's Liberation Movement in Opposition(SPLM-IO)

Opposition

seats
South Sudan Opposition Alliance(SSOA)

Opposition alliance

seats

Voting Rights

Citizens aged 18 and older have the right to vote. Full national voting rights are reserved for citizens; the country has not yet held regular post-independence elections under the current transition.

Recent Developments

  • In September 2024, the transitional government was extended for two more years, delaying long-promised elections again.
  • UN experts warned that the extension would deepen South Sudan's severe human rights crisis without genuine implementation of the peace agreement.
  • The transitional government continued to rely on decree-based rule and delayed electoral preparation amid persistent political fragmentation and insecurity.
Voting Age18
SuffrageUniversal adult suffrage
Constitution2011
States and administrative areas13

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