By Matik Kueth
The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) has urged political parties to agree on a course of action as South Sudan enters the final three months leading up to its planned general elections, as President Salva Kiir is expected to announce the fate of the transitional government.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, R-JMEC said the country had reached a “particularly consequential stage” of the implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), with elections scheduled for December 22, 2026.
“Today, 22 September 2026, marks an important milestone in the implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS),” the monitoring body said.
The statement comes as South Sudan enters the three-month period before the scheduled polls and amid expectations that President Salva Kiir could dissolve the transitional government and other transitional institutions.
The possibility of a dissolution has gained prominence following the passage and signing into law of amendments to the National Elections Act on Monday.
President Kiir assented to the amended law after parliament passed it on Monday, with the legislation providing a framework for the December elections and addressing previous legal provisions linking elections to the permanent constitution-making process and a national census.
Under the amended elections law, the President is required, within three months of the announced election date, to dissolve the national legislature, state assemblies, national government and state governments.
The National Elections Commission (NEC) announced December 22 as the polling date in June, setting the country on a path toward its first general elections since independence. The NEC says it is responsible for conducting the elections, including voter registration, candidate nomination and civic and voter education.
On Tuesday, security forces reportedly tightened security around key government institutions in Juba, restricting access to several government offices, including the Ministries Complex, as the country reached the three-month countdown to the scheduled elections.
The expected political changes come against a backdrop of uncertainty over the precise shape and timing of the transition.
Government spokesperson, Ateny Wek Ateny, confirmed in a statement that Kiir will dissolve the Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) at midnight (Tuesday), saying the move is intended to prevent an institutional vacuum as the transitional period reaches its end.
He stressed that a new government would be put in place immediately to oversee the election process and ensure continuity of government.
“The R-TGoNU is coming to an end at midnight. So, for an institutional vacuum not to happen, His Excellency the President has the prerogative of dissolving the government tonight,” Ateny stated.
“So that when the midnight comes, there is a new government in place. So that there is no political vacuum. So, this is a normal process,” he added.
Ateny also sought to reassure the public over the heightened security presence in Juba, saying security forces had been deployed to protect citizens and their property.
“The security is down there to assure the protection of the citizens and their property. There is nothing to worry about,” he noted.
According to him, the dissolution is linked to the requirement under the revitalized peace agreement for the transitional government to come to an end three months before the scheduled elections.
“The three months before the voting is ending tonight. So, His Excellency the President has the prerogative of appointing a new government to lead the process of election,” he stated.
RJMEC, however, is calling for the political process to remain firmly rooted in the peace agreement.
The body welcomed an Inter-Party Dialogue scheduled to begin on September 24, saying it provides an opportunity for the parties to address outstanding political questions and build consensus ahead of the elections.
“RJMEC urges all Parties to embrace genuine dialogue and agree on an inclusive and practical pathway towards credible elections and a peaceful conclusion of the Transitional Period,” the statement read in part.
The dialogue, once scheduled for September 17th, was postponed to September 24th by the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs.
The meeting is expected to bring together political parties and other stakeholders to discuss the electoral process.
RJMEC noted that the remaining months of the transition should also be used to address unresolved provisions of the peace agreement, including security arrangements, judicial reforms, permanent constitution-making, economic reforms and transitional justice.
It urged the parties to “adhere to the letter and spirit of the R-ARCSS” and demonstrate the political will needed to complete outstanding tasks.
The regional bloc IGAD also recently reaffirmed the importance of the peace agreement.
According to RJMEC, the 74th Session of the IGAD Council of Ministers, held in Djibouti on September 15th, maintained that the R-ARCSS remains the framework for lasting peace and called for inclusive dialogue to restore confidence and clarify a consensus-based pathway to the December elections.
The peace monitor noted that the significance of September 22nd should therefore not be considered separately from the broader implementation of the peace agreement.
“The current phase requires all Parties to remain committed to the Agreement and ensure that the transition proceeds and concludes in a manner that preserves peace, stability and national cohesion,” it said.
It also stressed that the people of South Sudan deserve a credible political process and a peaceful transition.
“The people of South Sudan deserve a credible political process, a peaceful transition, and a democratically elected government based on the rule of law,” it stated.