South Sudan President Dissolves Government Ahead of Elections

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir has dissolved the transitional government, including the country's five vice-presidents and parliament, three months before the nation is scheduled to hold its first elections since gaining independence in 2011.

Kiir, who remains in office with full constitutional powers until a new president is sworn in, signed an amended law on Monday that also dissolved national and state governments. He has reappointed some ministers and governors to caretaker positions until the elections slated for December 22.

This move comes after a history of postponed elections and extended transitional periods. The country has not held a general election since its independence, with polls previously delayed twice.

Kiir is running as the presidential candidate for his Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM). His main opposition rival, Riek Machar, who was removed as vice-president last year and faces treason charges, is reportedly under house arrest. Machar had been reinstated as vice-president as part of a 2018 peace agreement aimed at ending a five-year civil war between factions loyal to Kiir and Machar.

Heavy security was observed in the capital, Juba, on Tuesday, with soldiers from the army and national security services blocking access to government ministries. Employees arriving for work were reportedly turned away, and UN agencies in Juba advised staff to work remotely.

In recent weeks, Kiir dismissed the chairman of the national elections commission, Abednego Akok Kacuol, without explanation. Kacuol was replaced by Gabriel Bol Deng, the commission's secretary-general. Earlier this year, Akok had stated the commission required $250 million for election preparations but had only received $21 million.

The main opposition group, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO), led by Machar, has previously warned against participation in election preparations. A spokesperson for the group stated that anyone involved in voter registration or campaigning in territories controlled by the SPLM-IO would be considered a prisoner of war.

The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), responsible for overseeing the 2018 peace agreement, described South Sudan as having entered a "critical phase." The commission highlighted that several key aspects of the peace agreement remain incomplete and urged parties to establish a clear path toward credible elections and a peaceful conclusion to the transitional period, which has persisted since the country's independence. The latest 24-month extension of this period was set to conclude on February 22, 2027.