JUBA, South Sudan- South Sudan President Salva Kiir has declared the country ready to hold long-awaited general elections, signalling that the expansive power-sharing government established under the peace agreement will be significantly downsized once citizens elect a new administration.
Speaking during an interview with Citizen TV’s Jeff Koinange on Wednesday, Kiir defended the current transitional government’s structure, including the appointment of five vice presidents, saying the arrangement was a necessary compromise to preserve peace after years of civil conflict.
“It works because we need peace and so we have to make compromises to reach where we are today,” Kiir said.
The President disclosed that maintaining the enlarged executive had presented logistical and financial challenges, revealing that he had previously complained to his predecessor about the lack of accommodation and official vehicles for all five vice presidents.
“I complained to my predecessor that I didn’t have accommodation or vehicles for all the vice presidents. He told me he would work with me to increase oil production so there is no gap,” Kiir said.
South Sudan’s transitional government was established under the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS), signed in 2018, which created a power-sharing arrangement between rival political factions.
The agreement expanded the executive to include five vice presidents and significantly increased representation in Parliament as part of efforts to end years of civil war and maintain political stability.
While defending the transitional arrangement, Kiir said South Sudanese were eager to elect their leaders and move beyond the prolonged transition.
“South Sudan is ready for elections; the people are ready to elect their leaders. The transition is not good with them, but election is good with them,” he said.
The President maintained that his administration had prioritised implementation of the peace agreement by preserving the ceasefire and pursuing development projects despite persistent economic and security challenges.
“We did not accept fighting. We concentrate on maintaining the ceasefire, and whatever we can do for development, we have done, and we are still doing,” he said.
Kiir also sought to reassure citizens about the country’s governance structure, saying South Sudan’s institutions operate under the constitutional separation of powers.
“The Judiciary is independent; you have the Executive, which is the presidency followed by Parliament,” he said.
Looking beyond the elections, Kiir indicated that the country’s oversized government would undergo sweeping reforms to reduce public expenditure and improve efficiency.
“There will be changes after elections. Now you can see the five vice presidents; what will they do? In Parliament, we have 650 members; what will they do? This huge government prevented development. They will have to be reduced so that there is a window,” he said.
The remarks suggest that the current power-sharing structures, designed to accommodate former rivals and maintain political stability during the transition, could be dismantled following a successful electoral process.
South Sudan has repeatedly postponed elections as authorities cited delays in implementing key provisions of the peace agreement, including the drafting of a permanent constitution, electoral preparations and security reforms.
