South Sudan dissolves unity government ahead of planned elections

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir has dissolved the country’s transitional unity government and appointed a caretaker administration as the country prepares for planned national elections.

The presidential decree, issued on Tuesday, ended the power-sharing arrangement established under the 2018 peace deal. It removed all vice-presidents, ministers and local administrators, while also dissolving the national and state assemblies.

Kiir will remain president during the election period until an elected successor takes office. The decree left the judiciary and security institutions in place, but the move has raised concerns about the concentration of authority in the presidency.

Election timetable remains in place

The decree followed parliament’s approval of changes to the National Elections Act. The legal amendments allow the country to proceed towards elections scheduled for December 22 without first completing a permanent constitution or a national census.

The main opposition alliance rejected the changes. Machot Amuom, an independent analyst, said the amendments contained “ambiguity” and could give the president the ability to delay the vote.

“The new law gives the president full powers … He can decide even not to go for elections for another year or another two years,” Amuom said.

The elections were initially expected in 2022 but have been postponed twice. Outstanding responsibilities under the peace agreement include drafting a permanent constitution, registering voters and unifying armed forces aligned with rival political groups.

The head of the elections commission was replaced the previous week. The South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation reported that Gabriel Bol Deng Majok, the new commission chief, had received a “fresh mandate” to oversee preparations for the polls.

Warnings over the concentration of power

Michael Wani, a lawyer and former member of the constitution drafting committee, warned that the dissolution had left Kiir with authority over the country’s central political institutions.

“Kiir will be the only person in power, without vice-presidents, without the executive, without the parliament,” Wani said.

Amnesty International described the decree as a “decisive step” towards South Sudan’s first-ever elections, but urged the authorities to protect the conditions needed for a credible contest.

Tigere Chagutah, the organisation’s regional director for East and Southern Africa, called on the authorities to “ensure that a conducive environment exists for people to vote and stand in elections”.

Security tightened in Juba

The political transition is taking place under heightened security in the capital, Juba. AFP reported checkpoints, road closures around the government complex and a three-day period of heightened alert for security personnel.

South Sudan’s 2018 peace agreement halted a five-year civil war between forces associated with Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar. The United Nations has estimated that about 400,000 people were killed during the conflict, while millions were displaced.

Machar, who leads the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition, remains under house arrest and is on trial on charges including treason and murder. He denies the charges.

The decree establishes a caretaker administration, but the names and composition of the new government have not been provided. It also remains unclear whether the December 22 elections will take place as scheduled.