South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Tuesday, September 22 afternoon announced that the country’s transitional government will be dissolved, in a decisive step that paves the way for the December 22 2026 General Election.
The leader of the world’s youngest sovereign nation made the announcement during an expanded meeting of the presidency attended by the five vice presidents, leaders of political parties, presidential advisors, ministers, and other senior government officials.
During today’s high profile meeting, President Kiir recalled that political leaders — during the Expanded Presidency meeting of 10 December 2025 — agreed to avoid another extension of the transitional period and instead move the country toward 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,” President Kiir said.
According to the official South Sudanese Government website, all political leaders present at the meeting reaffirmed that elections remain the agreed path forward.
President Kiir also assured the country and the international community that the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) has not collapsed. He said he had consistently communicated this position during engagements with the African Union, IGAD and the African Union High-Level Ad Hoc Committee for South Sudan, known as the C5.
Pathway toward elections
The President outlined progress made along the major pathways toward elections, including the legal framework, administrative and logistical preparations, security arrangements and political dialogue.
On the legal pathway, he said key constitutional and electoral laws had been amended to remove obstacles to the conduct of elections. He added that approximately 39 political parties had been registered by the Political Parties Council.
The new constitution amended clears way for December elections without census, permanent constitution and the use of 2010 elections act.
On administrative and logistical preparations, President Kiir said the National Elections Commission now has a headquarters building and offices across all states. Civic education is underway, voter-registration centers have been assessed nationwide and voter registration is expected to commence soon.
Owing to the agreed election pathway, all the five vice presidents will be relieved, all the cabinet ministers will also be sent home, with only the president and permanent secretaries remaining with powers untill election day.
The parliament will also be cut down from the current 650 seats to 332 seats that will be contested for come December.
Consequently, all government officials that have been living in government built or rented houses have been given three months to vacate them. Those who have been sleeping in hotels paid for by the government will exit once the dissolution of parliament occurs.
President Kiir is the flag bearer of the largest and the ruling party, Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).
