President Salva Kiir of South Sudan announced the dissolution of the country's transitional government on September 22, during an expanded meeting of the presidency. The meeting brought together vice presidents, political party leaders, presidential advisers, ministers, and other senior officials. Kiir stated that the dissolution was in line with the legal requirements governing the electoral process. The announcement came after an agreement was reached by political leaders during an expanded presidency meeting on December 10, 2025.
The transitional government's dissolution is a significant step towards South Sudan's general elections scheduled for December 22, 2026. Kiir reassured the country and the international community that the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) remains intact. He had maintained this position during engagements with the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the African Union High-Level Ad Hoc Committee for South Sudan, commonly known as the C5.
According to Kiir, progress has been made towards elections in four key areas: the legal framework, administrative and logistical preparations, security arrangements, and political dialogue. On the legal front, Kiir said constitutional and electoral laws had been amended to address obstacles that could hinder the elections. He added that about 39 political parties had been registered by the Political Parties Council.
The amended laws separate the elections from the completion of the permanent constitution-making process and the national population and housing census, allowing the December polls to proceed while those processes continue. Kiir also stated that the National Elections Commission now has a headquarters and offices in all states, while civic education programmes are already underway. Voter-registration centres have been assessed across the country, with voter registration expected to begin soon.
Security preparations are also continuing, with the government saying measures are being put in place to support a peaceful electoral process. Kiir thanked the C5 leaders for their support and welcomed the African Union Peace and Security Council's position during its 1,264th meeting in August. The council acknowledged the government's commitment to holding elections in December 2026.
The announcement of the transitional government's dissolution was welcomed by political leaders at the meeting, who pledged to participate in the Inter-Party Dialogue. This dialogue is expected to address outstanding political and electoral issues and support preparations for a peaceful election. The meeting's outcome shows the leaders' commitment to moving the country forward as per their agreement in the expanded meeting of December 10, 2025.
The dissolution of the transitional government is a crucial step towards South Sudan's transition to a more stable and democratic system. The country's elections are expected to be a significant milestone in this process. With the government's commitment to a peaceful electoral process, South Sudan is moving closer to achieving its goals.
Key points
- South Sudan's President Salva Kiir dissolved the transitional government on September 22, ahead of the country's general elections scheduled for December 22, 2026.
