Kiir Dissolves South Sudan Government, Consolidating Power Before December Vote
South Sudan President Salva Kiir dissolved the transitional government and parliament on September 22, 2026, three months before the country's first national elections. The move removed all vice-presidents, including suspended rival Riek Machar, consolidating executive power in Kiir's hands. While the government frames this as a necessary step to hold elections, critics and legal analysts argue the action violates the 2018 peace agreement and constitutes a 'constitutional coup' by bypassing required amendment procedures. Heavy security was deployed in the capital, Juba, as the country prepares for polls on December 22.
