South Sudan’s President, Salva Kiir, has dismissed one of his vice presidents, Benjamin Bol Mel, in a shocking political shake-up that has heightened fears of renewed instability in the world’s youngest nation.
In a presidential decree broadcast on state television, Kiir announced the removal of Bol Mel from office, stripped him of his military rank of general, and dismissed him from the National Security Service. The president also fired the central bank governor and the head of the revenue authority both known allies of Bol Mel without offering any explanation for the sweeping dismissals.
The move comes at a tense moment for South Sudan, where anxiety is growing over the collapse of a fragile power-sharing deal between Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar. Many now fear the country could slip back into civil war.
Bol Mel, 47, was appointed vice president in February, replacing veteran politician and general James Wani Igga. His rise through the political ranks was rapid — he became the first deputy chairman of the ruling SPLM party, a position analysts say placed him as a likely successor to the 74-year-old Kiir.
Despite his political influence, Bol Mel’s career has been marred by controversy. The United States sanctioned him in 2017 over alleged corruption, describing him as Kiir’s “principal financial advisor,” a claim the president’s office denied. The sanctions were renewed earlier this year, though Bol Mel never publicly addressed the accusations.
His sudden dismissal has fueled speculation of a deepening internal power struggle within the SPLM. A government source told the BBC that Bol Mel had been a “divisive figure” and that his exit “was long overdue.”
South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, has struggled with persistent political turmoil and ethnic conflict. A devastating civil war broke out just two years after independence, pitting forces loyal to Kiir against those of Machar.
Although a 2018 peace agreement officially ended the war, tensions remain high, with sporadic violence continuing across the country. Elections have been postponed twice in the past three years, and recent clashes between government troops and armed groups have intensified.
Earlier this year, Machar himself was dismissed, arrested, and charged with murder, treason, and crimes against humanity charges his camp calls a “political witch-hunt.” The move further deepened divisions within the fragile government and renewed fears of nationwide unrest.
With Bol Mel’s ouster and no replacements announced, observers warn that South Sudan is once again on the edge of political chaos, as rival factions within the SPLM jostle for power ahead of long-delayed elections.
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