South Sudan's president dissolves government ahead of country's first elections

South Sudan President Salva Kiir has dissolved the transitional government, three months before the country's first election since its independence in 2011.

The country has previously postponed elections twice and extended the transitional period several times.

Under the amended law, signed on Monday, Kiir removed the country's five vice-presidents and dissolved parliament, as well as national and state governments.

Kiir is the presidential candidate of his Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM). No prominent figures have announced plans to challenge him in the December poll. The main opposition leader Riek Machar was sacked as vice-president last year and charged with treason.

Machar had been named vice-president as part of a 2018 peace deal to end a five-year civil war between forces loyal to the two men.

Kiir will remain in office with full constitutional powers until an elected president is sworn in. He also reappointed some ministers and governors in caretaker positions until the 22 December elections.

Ahead of Tuesday's announcement a heavy security presence was reported in the capital, Juba. Soldiers from the army and national security services blocked access to government ministries. Soldiers were also seen patrolling parts of the city.

A senior government official told the BBC that staff arriving for work were turned away and told to return the following Monday.