South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir announced the dissolution of the cabinet on Monday, clearing the way for the country’s first national elections since its 2011 independence.
Kiir said the move follows a constitutional mandate to form a transitional government that will oversee the electoral process, which has been delayed twice since the nation’s birth.
The president appointed a committee of senior officials to manage day‑to‑day affairs until a new government is installed after the vote, which is expected to be held later this year.
Background
South Sudan has not conducted a nationwide poll since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011. Initial plans for elections in 2015 were postponed amid civil war, and a second schedule for 2020 was also cancelled due to security concerns and political disagreements.
Next steps
International observers are set to monitor the transition, and the electoral commission is tasked with finalising voter rolls and constituency boundaries. The timeline for the election remains uncertain, but officials say the dissolution is intended to accelerate the process and restore civilian rule.