Kiir tells officials to seek permission before travelling abroad

South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit has reiterated a requirement for officials holding constitutional offices to obtain permission before travelling abroad, his office said.

Kiir restated the directive on Saturday while briefing an expanded caretaker government meeting in Juba on his recent diplomatic visits to Kenya and South Africa.

The directive follows a document dated October 3 that circulated publicly and reportedly restricts foreign travel by senior government officials and members of the organised forces for three months without permission from Kiir, who is also commander-in-chief. The document’s authenticity and implementation have not been independently verified.

On September 22, Kiir dissolved the transitional unity government and the country’s legislative assemblies and dismissed the five vice-presidents, leaving a caretaker administration to oversee government affairs.

A two-week inter-party dialogue concluded in Juba on October 7, with discussions focused on election-related issues and preparations for the polls.

During his recent visit to Nairobi, the president office said Kiir met Kenyan President William Ruto to discuss bilateral cooperation and South Sudan’s electoral preparations. The South Sudanese government said Kenya had expressed readiness to support the electoral process.

In Pretoria, Kiir held talks with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who also expressed support for the elections, according to the statement.

The statement further said the expanded caretaker cabinet reviewed the outcomes of the visits, progress in the inter-party dialogue and security preparations for the electoral period.

It said the government reaffirmed its commitment to holding elections in December during the expanded meeting.

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