South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Monday named four more caretaker national ministers, raising to 17 the number he has appointed since dissolving the transitional government last week.

A presidential decree read on state broadcaster SSBC announced the new appointments. Dr. John Gai Yoah becomes caretaker minister of health, and Dr. Kuyok Abol Kuyok takes charge of general education and instruction. Denay Jock Chagor was named caretaker minister of wildlife conservation and tourism, while Peter Mayen Majongdit will head humanitarian affairs and disaster management.

This is the second round of caretaker ministerial appointments since Kiir dissolved the government on September 22. On that day, shortly after ending the administration formed under the 2018 peace agreement, he appointed 13 caretaker ministers.

Two of the new appointees are returning to familiar portfolios. Kuyok and Chagor held the same ministries in the transitional government. Gai Yoah was education minister in an earlier government, and Mayen Majongdit led humanitarian affairs and disaster management from 2020 until his dismissal in November 2022.

The decree also lets caretaker governors and chief administrators appoint caretaker state ministers, county commissioners and mayors, with the names to be sent to the Office of the President within seven days. Each caretaker state administration will have seven main ministries: finance, planning and investment; local government and law enforcement; information and communication; health; general education and instruction; roads, bridges and infrastructure; and agriculture and food security.

The order cites the Transitional Constitution of South Sudan and the National Elections Act as the legal basis for the arrangement. It also requires all caretaker officials to act impartially and bars them from using public resources to gain an advantage in the elections.

The National Elections Commission has set the elections for December 22, 2026. Meanwhile, a two-week inter-party dialogue is under way in Juba to discuss election-related issues and preparations. Under the National Elections Act 2012, as amended in 2026, Kiir stays in office with full constitutional powers throughout the electoral period until an elected president is sworn in.