By South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has dismissed one of his vice-presidents, Benjamin Bol Mel, in a shock move that has intensified speculation about internal power struggles within the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).
In a decree broadcast on state television, Kiir announced the sacking of Bol Mel, who was widely seen as his possible successor. The president also stripped him of his military rank of general and dismissed him from the National Security Service (NSS).
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The decree further removed the central bank governor and the head of the revenue authority, both considered close allies of Bol Mel. No official explanation was given for the dismissals.
The move comes amid growing fears of political instability and a potential return to civil conflict, following the collapse of a fragile power-sharing agreement between Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar.
Bol Mel, 47, had only been appointed vice-president in February, replacing veteran politician James Wani Igga. He was later elevated to first deputy chairman of the SPLM, a position analysts said boosted his influence and positioned him as a possible successor to the 74-year-old Kiir.
His rapid rise came despite U.S. sanctions imposed in 2017 over alleged corruption — sanctions that were renewed earlier this year. The U.S. Treasury described Bol Mel as Kiir’s “principal financial advisor,” a characterization the president’s office rejected.
Neither Bol Mel nor his representatives have publicly commented on the dismissal.
A senior government official, speaking anonymously, described Bol Mel as a “divisive figure,” while some residents of Juba welcomed his removal. “Everybody hates this man,” said one taxi driver. “Even in his hometown of Aweil, people celebrated his dismissal. We are happy for President Kiir.”
Hours before the announcement, Bol Mel’s security detail was reportedly withdrawn from his residence and office in Juba, signaling his impending removal.
The president has not named replacements for the vacant posts.
South Sudan, which gained independence in 2011, has struggled with cycles of conflict and political unrest. The 2018 peace agreement that ended a devastating civil war remains fragile, with elections postponed twice and renewed clashes reported in several regions.
Earlier this year, opposition leader Riek Machar was sacked, arrested, and charged with murder, treason, and crimes against humanity, in a move critics described as a “political witch-hunt.” The charges followed a militia attack that killed 250 soldiers and a general.
Observers warn that the latest dismissals could further destabilize Africa’s youngest nation, where divisions within the ruling elite continue to threaten fragile peace efforts.
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