**Title: South Sudan's President Dissolves Government Ahead of Upcoming Elections**
**Juba, South Sudan** – In a significant political move, President Salva Kiir of South Sudan has dissolved the transitional government just three months before the country’s first national elections since gaining independence in 2011. This decision, announced on Monday, follows a history of postponed elections and extended transitional periods.
Under the new amendments to the law, President Kiir has removed all five vice-presidents and dissolved both the national and state parliaments, along with the governments at various levels. Kiir, who is the candidate for re-election representing the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), will maintain his presidential powers until a newly elected president is sworn in after the elections scheduled for December 22.
The political landscape in South Sudan remains tense, particularly with the absence of prominent challengers to Kiir. Riek Machar, the main opposition leader and former vice-president, was dismissed from his position last year and is currently under house arrest on charges of treason. Machar's removal was part of a peace agreement established in 2018, aimed at ending a protracted civil war that had divided the nation.
In the lead-up to the announcement of the government dissolution, a heavy security presence was noted in the capital, Juba. Military personnel from the army and national security services were deployed to restrict access to government ministries, with reports of soldiers patrolling various areas of the city. Employees arriving at government offices were turned away and instructed to return the following week, while UN agencies in Juba advised their staff to work remotely as the situation was assessed.
The political climate has been further complicated by the recent dismissal of Abednego Akok Kacuol, the chairman of the national elections commission, by Kiir. Akok's removal was not publicly explained, but he had previously indicated that the commission required $250 million to conduct the elections, yet had only received $21 million to date. Gabriel Bol Deng, the commission's secretary-general, has since taken over the leadership of the commission.
The SPLM-IO, the political party led by Machar, has issued warnings against participating in the electoral process, threatening that individuals engaging in voter registration or campaigning in areas under their control could face severe repercussions. Nathaniel Pierino, the acting chairperson of SPLM-IO, stated on social media that anyone involved in these activities would be treated as a "prisoner of war."
The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), which oversees the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement, has characterized the current political phase in South Sudan as critical. They have urged all parties involved to finalize key discussions to ensure credible elections and a peaceful conclusion to the transitional period, which has been extended multiple times since the country's independence. The latest extension is set to conclude on February 22, 2027.
As South Sudan prepares for these pivotal elections, the international community will be closely monitoring the developments, particularly concerning the security situation and adherence to the peace agreement. The upcoming electoral process is seen as a crucial step for the nation, which has faced ongoing challenges since its formation.