The Republic of South Sudan has gone through a new political development stage, following the dissolution of its transitional unity government by President Salva Kiir Mayardit on September 22, 2026, less than three months before general elections due on December 22. This ends the power-sharing administration that was formed based on the 2018 peace deal.
The December polls will be the first national election in the young republic since its secession from Sudan in 2011. However, there are significant political, legal, and logistical issues to address before elections can be held.
What Happens After Dissolution of the Government?
President Kiir has dismissed the first vice president and the four vice presidents of the country, along with ministers and legislators in the dissolved legislative bodies. Caretaker officials have been designated to ensure government functions until the elections. They include officials responsible for finance, defense, interior, justice, foreign affairs, petroleum, information, and peacebuilding. Caretaker governors for the ten states have also been named.
Under the amended National Elections Act, Kiir will be able to remain president with all constitutional powers during the election period until a new president is sworn in. The amendments further lower the number of members in the National Legislative Assembly from 650 to 270, while the state assemblies will have only 58 instead of 100 members.
Why Was There a Need for These Amendments in the Election Rules?
Before the dissolution, parliament passed amendments to the National Elections Act. These amendments eliminated prior requirements for the election to coincide with the development of a permanent constitution and the conducting of a national census.
The opposition party does not accept the amendments, claiming that they were done without enough consultation of the parties involved in the 2018 peace deal. This means that the amendments have cleared the way legally for the conduct of elections, although there are still controversies about how the process will be concluded.
Is South Sudan Prepared for Its Presidential Elections on December 22?
The electoral calendar continues to be uncertain. The National Elections Commission indicated at the beginning of this month that there is still no voter registration underway nor an official voter register. Voter registration materials and training of state-level electoral committees have already been done by the commission.
The commission’s new management was announced just before the dissolution of the government, where Kiir appointed Gabriel Bol Deng Majok as the new chair of the National Elections Commission, replacing Abednego Akok Kacuol, whose reasons were never made known.
Where Are Riek Machar and His Party?
Kiir’s long-time political arch-rival, Riek Machar, is still under house arrest while he is currently standing trial for treason and murder charges he denies. Riek Machar heads the SPLM-IO party, which was one of the main participants in the 2018 peace deal.
Thus, the political stance of Machar and other opposition groups becomes crucial as South Sudan approaches the election. Representatives of the opposition parties have demanded more political discussions and implementation of the peace agreement prior to the elections.
What Will Happen Next?
The key tasks include voter registration, organization of elections, political dialogue, and ensuring security during the campaign period. In turn, the caretaker government should maintain normal operation of state institutions and prepare the National Elections Commission for the December 22 elections.
This period is marked by another challenge for the transition process since several important conditions of the 2018 peace agreement have not been implemented yet. These conditions involve the adoption of the permanent constitution and unification of the security forces. Peace and human rights activists have urged all actors in South Sudanese politics to ensure civic space and find solutions through dialogue.
It will be clear for South Sudan very soon whether the December elections could take place or not.
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