South Sudan’s Kiir dissolves government, clears hurdles to delayed election

South Sudan President Salva Kiir dissolved the transitional government on Tuesday, hours after signing amendments to election laws that removed requirements to complete a permanent constitution and a national census before a vote, in a move aimed at advancing long-delayed election plans. South Sudan’s transitional ​arrangements were established under a 2018 peace deal after ​years of conflict, but repeated delays to key benchmarks, ⁠including a constitution and census, have pushed back election ​preparations.

Kiir’s office said in a statement he had dissolved the ​transitional government as required under the electoral process. Parliament late on Monday passed amendments to the National Elections Act, which Kiir subsequently signed into ​law on Tuesday, as the country entered what authorities described ​as a critical phase of election preparations. Voter registration has yet to ‌begin. Under ⁠the amended law, the incumbent executive leadership remains in office with full constitutional powers through the election period until a newly elected president takes office. Last week, Kiir…