01PoliticsAfrica
South Sudan's Kiir dissolves government hours after altering election law
The president dissolved the transitional government just after signing amendments that scrap constitutional and census requirements for December's vote.
President Salva Kiir dissolved the transitional government on 22 September 2026, hours after signing amendments to the National Elections Act. The changes remove the requirement for a permanent constitution and a national census before elections due on 22 December. Analysts told AFP the amendments also strip vice-presidencies created under the 2018 peace deal, concentrating power with Kiir.
What holds up
- ✓Kiir signed amendments removing the constitution and census preconditions.
- ✓The transitional government was formally dissolved on 22 September, as announced by the presidency.
What doesn't yet
- ?Whether the changes serve the election timetable or mainly entrench Kiir's control is analysts' interpretation.
- ?The presidency's framing of the dissolution as a routine step under the 2018 peace deal.
Ask before you share
- →Can a credible voter register exist by December when registration hasn't begun?
- →How does removing vice-presidential posts shift the balance between former rival factions?
- →Will observers accept elections held without a constitution or census?
Sources & original reporting
- [1]Africanews · Published 22 Sept 2026 · africanews.com