On Sept. 22, Kiir signed into law an electoral law amendments bill that Kiir’s justice minister had introduced in parliament on Sept. 16. The bill removes the country’s five vice presidents and allows Kiir to rule with constitutional powers until the nation holds its first-ever general elections. The bill also removes requirements under the 2018 peace agreement to forge a permanent constitution and hold a census before the polls. Shortly afterward, Kiir approved the purchase of new vehicles for the lawmakers.
The same day, Kiir announced the dissolution of the cabinet, national legislature, state assemblies, and local administrators, leaving only judicial and security institutions in place. Kiir then proceeded to appoint a caretaker government of his own making.
The main opposition alliance — whose leader, Riek Machar, has been under house arrest while facing a politically motivated treason trial — rejected the sweeping changes that followed Kiir’s replacement, without explanation, of the head of the elections commission. Legal analysts have called the changes unconstitutional.
