South Sudan assigned acting ministers to oversee government ministries left without caretaker ministers, as the country prepares for elections scheduled for December 22.

Caretaker Minister of Cabinet Affairs Martin Elia Lomuro issued an order on Tuesday, distributing responsibilities across the government's governance, economic affairs, services, infrastructure, and gender and youth clusters.

The move follows President Salva Kiir's dissolution of the transitional government on September 22 and the formation of a caretaker administration.

Under the new arrangements, serving ministers will take on additional portfolios. The Minister of Petroleum will oversee Finance and Planning, while the Finance and Planning minister will assume responsibility for Petroleum. The Minister of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism will also oversee Environment and Forestry, Land, Housing and Urban Development, and Water Resources and Irrigation.

In the service cluster, the Minister of General Education and Instruction will oversee Higher Education, Science and Technology. The Minister of Health will take on responsibility for General Education and Instruction and Public Service and Human Resource Development.

The order directs under-secretaries to continue managing the daily operations of their ministries under the supervision of the assigned acting ministers. It warns that failure to comply with the new arrangements could result in administrative or disciplinary action.

It also clarified that under-secretaries, as civil servants rather than constitutional officeholders, cannot exercise powers reserved for ministers.

The order took effect immediately and will remain in force until it is amended, revoked or replaced by a competent authority.

The appointments come as South Sudan approaches the December 22 election date amid concerns that preparations are falling behind schedule.