By Matik Kueth
President Salva Kiir Mayardit has dissolved South Sudan’s power-sharing Presidency, removing First Vice-President Dr. Riek Machar and the country’s four other vice-presidents as he takes the country into a caretaker administration ahead of elections in December, 2026.
The sweeping changes were announced on the state-owned South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) on Tuesday evening.
The order effectively ends the five-member Presidency established under the 2018 peace agreement, which brought Kiir and rival political groups into a transitional unity government.
Machar, along with Vice-Presidents James Wani Igga, Taban Deng Gai, Hussein Abdelbagi Akol and Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior, were relieved of their positions with immediate effect.
Kiir, however, remains president and will continue in office throughout the electoral period until a newly elected president is sworn in, according to the order.
The move comes three months before general elections scheduled for December 22, 2026, and follows amendments to the National Elections Act signed into law by Kiir on Monday.
The amendments removed previous legal requirements linking the elections to completion of a permanent constitution and a national population census.
Parliament dissolved
The order also dissolves the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (NTLA) and the Council of States, bringing the transitional national legislature to an end.
All substantive national ministers and deputy ministers have also been relieved of their portfolio duties, with ministries and government institutions directed to continue operating under caretaker arrangements.
Kiir appointed a new caretaker cabinet covering key portfolios, including presidential affairs, cabinet affairs, foreign affairs, defense, interior, justice, national security, finance, petroleum, trade, information, East African Community affairs and peacebuilding.
Among those appointed are Africano Monde Gedima as minister of presidential affairs, Martin Elia Lomuro as cabinet affairs minister, Cecilia Adut Manyok as foreign affairs minister, Ayor Akuoch Anok as defense minister and Athian Diing Athian as finance minister.
Information Minister Ateny Wek Ateny, who had earlier announced that the transitional government would be dissolved to prevent an institutional vacuum, has also been retained in the caretaker cabinet.
Former parliament speaker Joseph Ngere Paciko has been appointed presidential adviser on governance following the dissolution of parliament.
States also placed under caretaker rule
The shake-up extends beyond the national government.
Kiir dissolved the governments and legislative assemblies of all 10 states, as well as the administrations and legislative councils of the Abyei, Pibor and Ruweng administrative areas.
He subsequently appointed caretaker governors for all 10 states.
The appointments include Agustino Wani Jadallah for Central Equatoria, Louis Lobong Lojore for Eastern Equatoria, Moses Majok Gatluak for Jonglei, Riny Tueny Mabor Deng for Lakes, Charles Madut Akol for Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Joseph Nguen Monytuil for Unity, James Koang Chuol for Upper Nile, Bol Wek Agoth for Warrap, Sherif Daniel Sherif for Western Bahr el Ghazal and Daniel Badagbu Rembisa for Western Equatoria.
Caretaker chief administrators were also appointed for Abyei, Pibor and Ruweng.
At county level, commissioners have been relieved of their political and policy duties pending the appointment of interim commissioners.
They may remain in place only to perform functions necessary for essential services, public order and administrative continuity.
Kiir remains in charge during electoral period
While the power-sharing Presidency, parliament, cabinet and state governments have been dissolved, the Republican Order keeps Kiir in office throughout the electoral period.
The judiciary, civil service, organized forces, independent commissions and other institutions whose continued operation is required by law will remain functional.
The caretaker officials are also barred from entering long-term international agreements, taking on substantial public debt, entering strategic concession agreements or disposing of public assets without presidential authorization and compliance with the law.
They are required to remain politically neutral and are prohibited from using public office, government resources or state institutions to promote or disadvantage political parties or candidates.
The caretaker arrangement will remain in place until the elected president, national legislature and elected state, administrative-area and local authorities assume office, unless the order is amended or revoked.
The dissolution marks the formal end of the transitional governing structure created under the 2018 peace agreement, as South Sudan enters the final three months before the scheduled December 22 elections.