JUBA — South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Tuesday announced the dissolution of the country’s transitional government, three months before the general elections scheduled for December 22, 2026.
Kiir made the announcement on Tuesday during an expanded meeting of the Presidency attended by vice presidents, political party leaders, presidential advisers, ministers, and other senior government officials.
The president said the government would be formally dissolved later Tuesday in accordance with the legal requirements governing the conduct of elections.
“It is today, on this date of 22 September 2026, that I want to announce to you that the government will be dissolved today, as per the legal requirements governing the conduct of every election,” Kiir said.
The announcement comes exactly three months before the election date declared by the National Elections Commission (NEC).
Kiir said the decision follows an agreement reached during the Expanded Presidency meeting on December 10, 2025, when political leaders agreed to avoid another extension of the transitional period and instead prepare the country for general elections.
“I want to appreciate your presence, which shows your commitment and support to move this country forward as per our agreement in the expanded meeting of 10 December 2025,” he said.
Kiir also assured South Sudanese and the international community that the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) remains in force.
He said 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.
The president said progress had been made in preparations for the elections, including reforms to the legal framework, administrative and logistical arrangements, security preparations, and political dialogue.
On the legal framework, Kiir said key constitutional and electoral laws had been amended to remove obstacles to the conduct of the elections.
He said about 39 political parties had also been registered by the Political Parties Council.
The amended legal framework separates the conduct of the general elections from the completion of the permanent constitution-making process and the national population and housing census.
Kiir said the changes provide the legal and institutional framework required for the December elections.
On administrative preparations, the president said the NEC now has a headquarters and offices across all states.
He added that civic education activities are underway, while voter-registration centers have been assessed across the country.
According to Kiir, voter registration is expected to begin soon following preparations by the electoral body.
The president also said security preparations were continuing to support a peaceful electoral process.
Kiir thanked the C5 leaders for their support for the electoral process and welcomed the position of the African Union Peace and Security Council, which he said acknowledged the government’s commitment to conducting elections in December 2026 during its 1,264th meeting in August.
Political leaders at the meeting also confirmed their readiness to participate in the Inter-Party Dialogue, which is expected to address outstanding political and electoral issues and contribute to creating a peaceful environment for the elections.
The dissolution of the transitional government marks a major step in the government’s stated plan to move South Sudan from the transitional period toward general elections on December 22.
