Overview
- President Salva Kiir signed amendments to the National Elections Act on Sept. 22 that remove earlier requirements tying elections to a permanent constitution and a national census.
- Hours after the signing, Kiir dissolved the unity transitional government and installed a caretaker administration as the country moves toward the December 22 polling date.
- The new law sharply reduces legislative seats by cutting the National Legislative Assembly from 650 to 270 and lowering state and local council sizes, which will change how regions and communities are represented.
- Major opposition figures and the South Sudan Opposition Alliance rejected the changes as insufficiently consulted, while SPLM-IO leader Riek Machar remains under house arrest and on trial, raising questions about the vote’s inclusiveness and fairness.
- Key election preparations have not started: voter registration is still pending and the elections commission chief was replaced last week, creating logistical and legitimacy risks that could increase political tension and affect citizens’ access to the vote.