Although fraught with numerous implementation issues, the Revitalized Agreement for the Resolution of Conflict (RARCSS) has been credited with bringing relative stability to South Sudan since 20181. The Agreement mandated the creation of a Unity Government, setting the stage for the Transitional Period, which is due to end in 2023. The moment of truth for this peace agreement is the holding of elections proscribed for the end of the Transitional Period. Although the elections mandated by the peace agreement are looming, very little has been done to prepare as other key phases of the agreement remain unimplemented. This  review analyzes South Sudan’s readiness to conduct elections in under a year and reflects on why they are important. We start out with the discussion of the election’s fundamentals, then move to why elections are imperative in a post-conflict context. We then end our Review with policy perspectives that have the potential of improving/strengthening the process, preserving its integrity, and delivering credible and legitimate results, regardless of whether the elections will be conducted on time.

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