South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir issued a decree dissolving the country’s transitional unity government and establishing a caretaker administration as the nation prepares for its first-ever national elections. The action terminated the power-sharing framework established by a 2018 peace agreement that ended a lengthy civil conflict, prompting concerns about concentrated executive authority.
The decree, announced via national broadcast, removed all vice presidents, ministers, and local administrators from their positions and dissolved both national and state assemblies. The judiciary and security apparatus remain operational, with Kiir remaining in office throughout the election period until a newly elected president takes office. This action followed parliament’s approval the previous day of amendments to the National Elections Act that permitted Kiir to retain power during the electoral process while eliminating the vice-presidential positions that had been established under the 2018 peace agreement.
These modifications enable South Sudan to proceed toward elections scheduled for December 22 without first completing a permanent constitution or conducting a census, requirements that were previously linked to the transition process. The main opposition coalition has rejected the legislative changes. Electoral contests were originally anticipated in 2022 but have been delayed twice. Several obligations under the 2018 peace agreement remain incomplete, including permanent constitution drafting, voter registration, and military unification among forces aligned with competing political factions.
Human rights organizations offered mixed assessments of the developments. Amnesty International characterized Kiir’s decree as a significant move toward national elections but called on authorities to establish conditions enabling free and fair voting and candidacy. Legal experts and analysts raised concerns about the implications of the changes. One constitutional lawyer noted that Kiir would exercise sole executive authority without vice presidents, cabinet members, or legislative oversight. An independent analyst highlighted legal ambiguities in the new framework, suggesting the president retained discretion over the election timeline.
Additional developments included Kiir’s recent replacement of the elections commission chief without public explanation. Security measures intensified throughout the capital, with checkpoints, road restrictions, and elevated alert status implemented near government facilities. The opposition leader and longtime rival of Kiir, Riek Machar, remained under house arrest during this period while facing trial on charges including treason and murder, which he contests.
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