Heavy security in S.Sudan as election law changed

Heavy security was deployed in South Sudan's capital on Tuesday after the president altered the election law to keep himself in office while removing the vice-presidents in the run-up to the country's first-ever vote.

South Sudan achieved independence in 2011 but soon after plunged into a five-year civil war and remains one of the poorest and most corrupt countries in the world.

Elections are due on December 22, having twice been postponed, but the government has failed to implement almost any of the preconditions set out in a 2018 peace agreement.

No voters have been registered, rival armies have not been unified and the long-awaited constitution has never been finalised.

On Monday, President Salva Kiir approved amendments to the National Elections Act, allowing the vote to go ahead despite the lack of constitution or census.

The amendments also allowed Kiir to remove the five vice-presidents, appointed under the 2018 peace deal, while he will remain in office through the election for the sake of "continuity".

An AFP journalist said there was an increased military presence in Juba on Tuesday.

"I have seen many soldiers present along the roads. This is not the normal thing in Juba, and I don't know what is happening. So I decided to close my shop," one vendor, who asked for anonymity, told AFP.

The Internal Security Bureau issued a directive, seen by AFP, ordering "all forces to be in uniforms and be on high alert for (3) days" from September 22.

A civil servant, who also asked for anonymity, told AFP his ministry had been closed without warning and military were posted outside.

"I was told to go back. I don't know what is happening," he said.

Tensions remain high between rival political groups, with opposition leader Riek Machar currently jailed on treason charges.

In that context, international observers fear the election could tip the country back into full-blown conflict.