President Kiir Dissolves RTGoNU Ahead of December Elections

South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit (Courtesy:CNN)

September 22, 2026

JUBA, South Sudan

President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Tuesday announced the dissolution of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU), formally ending the power-sharing administration established under the 2018 peace agreement. The dissolution comes three months before South Sudan’s planned general elections on December 22, 2026. Government officials said the decision was required under the electoral timetable to prevent a constitutional vacuum as the country moves from the transitional arrangement into the election period.

President Kiir made the announcement during an expanded meeting in Juba attended by vice presidents, political-party leaders, presidential advisers, cabinet ministers and senior government officials. He said the formal decision would be issued in accordance with laws governing the conduct of national elections. Information Minister and Government Spokesperson Ateny Wek Ateny said the RTGoNU, created under the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan, reaches its legal end at midnight on September 22. He said the agreement requires the transitional executive authority to conclude three months before voting begins.

“The revitalized peace agreement … which created the revitalized national government, RTGoNU, is coming to an end at midnight,” Ateny told journalists, explaining that the President acted to ensure continuity of government during the transition.

The President has formed a caretaker administration to manage state affairs during the remaining 90 days before the elections. The government has also said security forces deployed in Juba are intended to maintain order during the political transition.

The RTGoNU was formed under the 2018 peace agreement, which sought to end years of conflict and bring former rival political and military forces into a unified transitional administration. However, major milestones, including the completion of a permanent constitution, a national census and other institutional reforms, have faced repeated delays. Earlier Tuesday, President Kiir signed amendments to election laws that removed requirements to complete a permanent constitution and national census before the vote, a move intended to clear legal obstacles to the long-delayed elections. The dissolution of the RTGoNU now places South Sudan in a critical pre-election period, with citizens, political parties, civil-society groups and international partners closely watching the formation of the caretaker government and preparations for the country’s anticipated first national elections since independence.

Savanna Radio will continue to follow developments from Juba and provide updates on the caretaker administration, election preparations and public reaction.