Africa — 2026-09-23

South Sudan President Kiir Dissolves Government Ahead of First National Elections

BLUFKiir's dissolution of all executive, legislative, and subnational bodies into a caretaker structure he alone controls makes holding elections by December 22 unlikely.

President Salva Kiir issued a Republican Order on Tuesday dissolving South Sudan's 2018 transitional unity government, removing First Vice-President Riek Machar and all four vice-presidents, and appointing a caretaker administration ahead of elections set for December 22 12. The order also dissolved the national legislature, the Council of States, and all 10 state governments and legislative assemblies, with caretaker ministers and governors named to run affairs in the interim 1. The dissolution followed parliament's passage and Kiir's signing of amendments to the National Elections Act, which removed the prior requirement to complete a permanent constitution and census before voting and allow Kiir to remain in office with full executive powers through the election period 23. Machar remains under house arrest facing treason and murder charges he denies, and Kiir replaced the elections commission chief last week without explanation 23. Amnesty International called the decree a "decisive step" toward the country's first elections, while analysts Michael Wani and Machot Amuom told AFP the changes leave Kiir without institutional checks 2.

Analysis
Kiir's decree collapses executive, legislative, and subnational institutions into a single caretaker structure answerable only to him, and holding the vote on its scheduled December 22 date is unlikely: voter registration has not begun, the elections commission chief was replaced without explanation last week, and Machar's continued detention removes the one rival with standing to contest a delay. The amended elections law lets Kiir remain in office indefinitely if the poll slips, weakening any institutional pressure to rush preparations. We hold high confidence in this judgment, given consistent, corroborated reporting from independently sourced primary outlets Radio Tamazuj and Eye Radio, converging with wire coverage and independent analyst readings. Amnesty International's framing of the decree as a "decisive step" toward elections suggests the consolidation could instead reflect genuine clearing of transitional benchmarks, a distinction that determines whether donors commit resources to a December certification process or prepare for extended engagement with an indefinitely prolonged Kiir's caretaker government.

4 sources

Kiir dissolves government, appoints caretaker administration - Radio Tamazuj
South Sudan Kiir dissolves government ahead of first national elections - Al Jazeera
South Sudan's Kiir dissolves government, clears hurdles to delayed election - The Print (Reuters)
BREAKING NEWS: President Kiir announces dissolution of 2018 peace government - Eye Radio