JUBA, South Sudan – In a sweeping move announced on state television Tuesday night, President Salva Kiir signed an executive decree that dissolved the country’s transitional government, removed his deputies and appointed a caretaker administration to oversee key ministries through the upcoming election period.
Caretaker team takes charge of critical ministries
The decree names new ministers for foreign affairs, defense, cabinet affairs, interior, justice, national security, finance, petroleum, information and peace‑building. Kiir will remain president throughout the electoral period until a new leader is sworn in after the Dec 22 vote.
Background to the dissolution
The transitional period stems from a 2018 peace agreement that ended a devastating civil war. That agreement has been extended several times, and the current roadmap to elections envisioned the dissolution of the transitional structures as a step toward a permanent government.
Kiir’s recent actions have raised concerns among observers. In September he dismissed the chair of the National Elections Commission without providing a public explanation. Last year he suspended First Vice President Riek Machar after criminal charges were filed over Machar’s alleged role in an attack on a government garrison; Machar’s treason trial remains ongoing and he denies the accusations.
Election outlook and opposition response
Kiir is expected to run for president, though it remains unclear whether Machar, currently under house arrest, will be a candidate. Amnesty International called the dissolution a “decisive step toward South Sudan’s first elections” but urged the government to protect civic space, freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, warning against intimidation of journalists, civil‑society actors and political opponents.
Policy analyst Abraham Awolich argued the unilateral move violates the 2018 peace agreement, describing the upcoming vote as “nothing close to being democratic, free and fair.” He warned the actions push the nation toward a constitutional crisis and called for an inclusive, internationally mediated political dialogue that includes all political forces and civil society.
International concerns
The United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan warned earlier this month that elections held without safeguards and an inclusive political dialogue could reignite conflict. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, emphasizing the need for a transparent and credible electoral process.
As South Sudan prepares for its first presidential election since the civil war, the dissolution of the transitional government marks a pivotal moment. Whether the caretaker administration can maintain stability and deliver a free, fair vote remains to be seen.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
