South Sudan (an East African nation that gained independence in 2011) has announced that its first general election will be held on 22 December, ending years of repeated postponements driven by armed conflict and political deadlock. The vote is expected to feature incumbent President Salva Kiir, though the fate of main rival Riek Machar — currently under house arrest in the capital Juba and facing treason charges his supporters call politically motivated — remains uncertain. The main opposition movement has warned that anyone entering territory it controls to register voters or campaign will be treated as a prisoner of war, underscoring deep doubts about whether a credible election can take place while fighting continues and a 2018 peace deal remains in collapse.