President Salva Kiir has dissolved South Sudan’s transitional government three months before the country’s first election since it gained independence in 2011. The decision led to the removal of five vice presidents and the disbanding of parliament and state governments. Meanwhile, Kiir retains his full presidential powers until a new president is sworn in and has reappointed caretaker ministers. The move concentrates power in Kiir’s hands. Currently, he is the frontrunner for the presidency, with no major candidate having emerged to challenge him. His rival and former vice-president, Riek Machar, is the main opposition leader and would have provided the strongest challenge. However, he has been under house arrest since he was removed as vice-president on treason charges. Machar’s opposition faction has also warned it will treat election workers in its territory as prisoners of war, threatening the vote’s legitimacy.