Salva Kiir Dissolves South Sudan's Government Ahead of Elections

On September 22, 2026, President Salva Kiir of South Sudan announced the dissolution of the Transitional Government of National Unity, which formally ended the transitional power-sharing arrangement established under the 2018 peace agreement. This decision comes ahead of the general elections set for December 22, 2026.

Kiir removed First Vice-President Riek Machar and the other four vice-presidents, along with national ministers and deputy ministers. The order also dissolved the Transitional National Legislative Assembly and the Council of States, concluding the current legislative structure.

To prevent an administrative vacuum, Kiir appointed caretaker officials to manage government operations during the electoral period, covering essential portfolios such as foreign affairs, defence, and finance. The amendments to the National Elections Act, signed before the dissolution, eliminated legal requirements that previously hindered the elections, allowing South Sudan to proceed with the polls after delays due to unresolved issues from the peace agreement.