BREAKING NEWS: President Kiir announces dissolution of 2018 peace government
JUBA — President Salva Kiir has announced that South Sudan’s transitional government will be dissolved today, marking a decisive step toward the general elections scheduled for December 22, 2026.
President Kiir made the announcement during an expanded meeting of the presidency in Juba on Tuesday, September 22, attended by the vice presidents, leaders of political parties, presidential advisors, cabinet ministers, and senior government officials.
According to Government Spokesperson and Minister of Information Hon. Ateny Wek Ateny early announced that the government will issue the formal resolution later on Tuesday in accordance with the legal requirements governing the conduct of national elections.
The decision comes as the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) reaches its official expiration at midnight, prompting the President to dissolve the cabinet to prevent a constitutional breakdown,
Hon. Ateny confirmed that the President exercised his constitutional authority to dissolve the administration and ensure a seamless handover as the country enters its pre-election phase.
“The revitalized peace agreement or a solution of conflict which created the revitalized national government, RTgoNU, is coming to an end at midnight,” Minister Ateny declared. “So in order for constitutional vacuum not to happen, His Excellency the President has the prerogative of dissolving the government tonight, so that when the midnight comes, there is a new government in place.”
According to Minister Ateny, the dissolution enforces a legal requirement under the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), which mandates that the executive authority of the transitional government lapses exactly three months before national voting begins.
“According to the revitalized peace agreement, the government of RTGoNU, you know revitalized transitional national government, unity government, have to come to an end three months before the voting,” Minister Ateny stated. “And the three months before the voting is ending tonight. So this is a normal process.”
Addressing public concern over military and police presence across the capital, Minister Ateny confirmed that state security forces deployed specifically to secure the city and maintain order during the transition.
“The security is down there to assure the protection of the citizens and their properties,” Minister Ateny emphasized. “There’s nothing to worry about.”
Minister Ateny indicated that President Kiir will form a caretaker administration immediately to run state affairs and direct the country through the final 90-day countdown to the polls.
