South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has dissolved the country’s transitional unity government and appointed a caretaker administration in preparation for the country's first-ever national elections. The decree, issued on Tuesday, ended a power-sharing arrangement established under a 2018 peace deal that aimed to end years of civil war. Concerns have been raised regarding Kiir's potential to exercise unchecked power following this decision.
The decree, announced by the national broadcaster, stated that all vice-presidents, ministers, and local administrators have been removed, and both the national and state assemblies have been dissolved. The judiciary and security institutions will remain operational, while Kiir will continue to serve as president “during the election period until the next elected president assumes office.”
This decree followed the parliament's approval of amendments to the National Elections Act, which allows Kiir to maintain his position during the election period while dismissing all vice presidents appointed under the 2018 peace agreement. These changes enable South Sudan to proceed with elections scheduled for December 22, despite not completing a permanent constitution or conducting a census, which were previously prerequisites for the transition.
The main opposition alliance has expressed its rejection of these changes. Originally, elections were anticipated in 2022 but have been postponed twice. Outstanding tasks from the 2018 peace deal include drafting a permanent constitution, registering voters, and unifying armed forces loyal to rival factions.
The United Nations estimates that the civil war resulted in approximately 400,000 deaths and displaced millions. Amnesty International characterized Kiir’s decree as a “decisive step” towards the elections, but Tigere Chagutah, the regional director for East and Southern Africa at Amnesty International, called for the establishment of a conducive environment for voting and candidacy.
Analysts have cautioned that the recent changes grant Kiir extensive control. Michael Wani, a lawyer and former member of the constitution drafting committee, noted that Kiir would be the sole authority in power, lacking vice-presidents, an executive, or a parliament. Independent analyst Machot Amuom highlighted the ambiguity in the legal changes, suggesting that the new law could allow the president to postpone elections indefinitely.
Additionally, last week, Kiir replaced the head of the elections commission without providing a reason. The new head, Gabriel Bol Deng Majok, has been tasked with overseeing preparations for the elections. These preparations are occurring amid heightened security measures, including checkpoints and road closures around the government complex in Juba, where security personnel have been placed on alert for three days. Kiir’s rival, Riek Machar, leader of the opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), remains under house arrest and is facing trial on charges of treason and murder, which he denies.