South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit has dissolved the country's transitional unity government and appointed a caretaker administration to oversee preparations for general elections scheduled for December 22, 2026. The move effectively ends the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity, established under the 2018 peace agreement that ended a five-year civil war. Kiir remains president and retains full constitutional authority until an elected successor takes office.
The sweeping changes announced in Juba on Tuesday removed the five vice presidents, the Council of Ministers, the transitional parliament, and the leadership of all 10 states and three administrative areas. Those relieved of their positions include First Vice President Riek Machar Teny and vice presidents James Wani Igga, Taban Deng Gai, Hussein Abdelbagi Akol, and Rebecca Nyandeng Garang. Machar's removal formalises his exclusion from an administration in which he had already been politically marginalised.
Machar, the opposition leader, has been under house arrest since March 2025 and is on trial on charges including treason and murder, which he denies. The 35-member national cabinet and its deputy ministers were also dissolved. The Transitional National Legislative Assembly and Council of States were disbanded, while the governors of the 10 states and chief administrators of Abyei, Greater Pibor, and Ruweng were relieved.
Kiir appointed Joseph Ngeri Pachiko as presidential adviser on governance and named a reduced caretaker cabinet. Africano Mande Gedima was appointed Minister of Presidential Affairs, while Martin Elia Lomoro retained the Cabinet Affairs portfolio. Cecilia Adeng Manyok was named Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ayor Akuoch Anok took Defence and Veterans Affairs, and Rizik Zakaria Hassan was appointed Interior Minister.
Other appointments included Dr Wek Mamer Kuol as Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister, Isaac Mamur Obete as National Security Minister, and Athian Diing Athian as Minister of Finance and Planning. Awow Daniel Chuang was placed in charge of Petroleum, Dr Labanya Margret Mathya was named Trade and Industry Minister, and Ateny Wek Ateny retained the Information, Communication, Technology, and Postal Services portfolio.
Michael Makuei was appointed Minister of East African Community Affairs, while Stephen Par took the Peacebuilding portfolio. Kiir also appointed Marial Chanuong as Deputy Defence Minister, Marial Gumke as Deputy Interior Minister, and Philip Jada Nathania as Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister. Gieth Kon Mathiang was named director general of the National Communication Authority, Mosety Kat Majok was appointed head of the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority.
New caretaker governors were also appointed across the country, including Jadala Wani for Central Equatoria, Louis Lobong Lojore for Eastern Equatoria, and Moses Majok for Western Equatoria. The country is set to hold general elections in December 2026, and the caretaker administration will oversee preparations for the polls.
Key points
- President Salva Kiir dissolves transitional unity government ahead of 2026 elections.
- Riek Machar removed as First Vice President amid trial on treason and murder charges.
- Caretaker cabinet and governors appointed to oversee preparations for general elections.
