South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has dismissed Benjamin Bol Mel from his position as vice president and deputy leader of the ruling party, marking a major political shake-up in the country’s leadership. The decision, announced in a presidential decree read on state television Wednesday, also included the removal of the central bank governor and the head of the revenue authority, both of whom were known allies of Bol Mel.
The abrupt dismissal comes amid mounting speculation in Juba about President Kiir’s succession plans and growing tensions within the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM). Bol Mel, who was widely regarded as one of Kiir’s closest confidants and rumored successor, had been appointed vice president earlier this year. His removal, observers say, could deepen divisions within the political elite and heighten instability ahead of long-delayed national elections.
No official reason was given for the dismissals. However, sources in Juba told reporters that security around Bol Mel’s residence had been reduced hours before the announcement, fueling speculation that the move was imminent.
Bol Mel’s ouster follows years of controversy surrounding his political and business dealings. He has been under U.S. sanctions since 2017 for alleged corruption and was accused by a United Nations report in September 2024 of misappropriating roughly $1.7 billion through government contracts for road construction projects that were never completed. Bol Mel has not publicly responded to these allegations.
In addition to removing him from office, President Kiir also demoted Bol Mel from the rank of general, a title he had received in September 2024. The demotion signals a complete break between the two men, who were once considered close allies.
South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, remains plagued by political infighting, economic hardship, and sporadic violence. The country’s fragile peace deal, signed in 2018 after a civil war that killed an estimated 400,000 people, is showing renewed strain.
Political analysts warn that Bol Mel’s dismissal could further unsettle the already volatile political landscape. The government has repeatedly postponed elections—most recently in 2022 and 2024—and uncertainty continues to surround Kiir’s eventual succession.
Meanwhile, tensions have intensified following the arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar in March on treason charges, reigniting clashes between forces loyal to Kiir and various armed groups across several regions.
With both internal rivalries and external pressures mounting, observers fear that Kiir’s latest move may deepen instability at a critical moment for the world’s youngest nation.
Source:Africa Publicity
