South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has dissolved the country’s transitional government.
The decision comes ahead of elections planned for December 22.
Kiir has also appointed a caretaker government for the election period.
The vote would be South Sudan’s first national election since independence in 2011.
Kiir dissolves transitional government
The changes were announced in a presidential decree.
All vice presidents and ministers were removed from office.
The national parliament was also dissolved.
State governments and assemblies were dissolved as well.
However, the judiciary and security institutions remain in place.
Kiir will remain president during the election period.
He will stay in office until an elected president takes over.
South Sudan prepares for election
The decision follows changes to the country’s election laws.
The changes allow South Sudan to move towards elections without first completing a permanent constitution or census.
Both processes were previously linked to the political transition.
Elections were first expected in 2022.
However, they were postponed twice.
The vote is now scheduled for December 22, 2026.
Peace deal tasks remain unfinished
The transitional government was created under a 2018 peace agreement.
The deal helped end years of civil war.
However, several parts of the agreement remain incomplete.
These include writing a permanent constitution and registering voters.
Another unfinished task is the unification of armed forces linked to rival political groups.
Opposition rejects changes
The main opposition alliance has rejected the latest changes.
Kiir’s longtime rival Riek Machar also remains under house arrest.
Machar was suspended as first vice president.
He is on trial on charges including treason and murder.
He denies the charges.
Kiir also recently replaced the head of the country’s election commission.
No reason was publicly given for the change.
Focus turns to December vote
Rights groups are calling for a fair political environment ahead of the election.
Amnesty International said people must be able to vote and take part in the election freely.
The group also called for the protection of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
Meanwhile, some analysts have raised concerns about the concentration of power during the election period.
Attention will now turn to preparations for the December vote.