South Sudan President Salva Kiir has dismissed three ministers amidst a political crisis threatening the unity government established under a 2018 peace deal. This reshuffle follows armed confrontations in Nasir, where violence has exacerbated tensions and resulted in casualties. The international community is urging all parties to prevent chaos and work towards stability and democracy.
In a significant political shakeup, South Sudan President Salva Kiir has dismissed three ministers as part of an ongoing cabinet reshuffle amid a political crisis that jeopardizes the unity government established under the 2018 peace agreement that concluded the country’s five-year civil war. This action was reported by News.az, citing Xinhua.
President Kiir’s latest decree, announced via the state-run South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation, resulted in the dismissal of Ruben Madol Arol, former minister of justice and constitutional affairs, who is now replaced by Wek Mamer Kuol, a previous deputy cabinet minister. Additionally, Awut Deng Acuil was removed from her position as the minister of general education and instruction, with Kuyok Abol Kuyok taking over, and Joseph Mum Majak was also relieved from his role as minister of trade and industry.
Deng and Madol have been in their ministerial roles since 2020, whereas Majak was appointed as trade minister in July 2024. Notably, no specific reasons were provided by the president for their dismissals. This cabinet reshuffle accompanies rising tensions following armed confrontations in Nasir, including a recent attack on a United Nations aircraft that resulted in the loss of UN personnel and numerous local soldiers on March 7.
The international community has expressed increasing concern, urging all factions in South Sudan to prioritize stability, democracy, and lasting peace, emphasizing the importance of preventing a descent back into chaos. Reports indicate that fighting in Nasir, a strategically important location, has intensified since March 3, with numerous arrests of senior officials from the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army-In Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) under the leadership of First Vice-President Riek Machar. Tragically, the violence has resulted in over 20 fatalities and numerous injuries on the outskirts of Nasir, near the border with Ethiopia.
The recent cabinet reshuffle by President Salva Kiir amid escalating tensions in South Sudan highlights the precarious nature of the country’s political landscape. The dismissals of three ministers without stated reasons coincide with violent confrontations and international calls for peace and stability. Continued unrest poses severe challenges to the unity government established following the peace agreement that ended the civil war, necessitating urgent resolutions to prevent a further deterioration of the situation.
Original Source: news.az
