South Sudan's President Drops the Government—A Pre‑Election Power Play

Thu Sep 24 2026 02:31:01 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

President Salva Kiir dissolves South Sudan's interim government ahead of its first election, leaving opposition quiet and security tight in Juba.

President Salva Kiir has dissolved South Sudan's transitional government just months before the country’s first national election, removing all vice‑presidents and shutting down parliament. Kiir, the candidate for the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, faces no prominent challengers, while former vice‑president Riek Machar remains under house arrest. The Capital, Juba, saw a surge in security, with soldiers blocking ministry access and staff turned away, prompting UN agencies to shift employees to remote work. With Kiir retaining full constitutional powers until the December poll, the move raises concerns about the openness of South Sudan’s first democratic test. The international community watches closely as the country navigates this critical phase of its transition.

South Sudan's President Drops the Government—A Pre‑Election Power Play

President Salva Kiir has dissolved South Sudan's transitional government, just months before the country's first national election, wiping out all vice‑presidents and shutting down parliament.

Kiir, the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement candidate, has not announced any challengers for the December vote. Former vice‑president Riek Machar remains under house arrest after his removal last year.

Security tight in the capital, Juba. Soldiers blocked ministry access and staff were turned away. UN agencies forced employees to work remotely.

With Kiir maintaining full constitutional powers until a new president is sworn in, a caretaker cabinet has been appointed to keep the state running.

International observers monitor the situation as South Sudan prepares for its first democratic test.