In a dramatic political shake-up, South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has dismissed Vice President Benjamin Bol Mel, a key ally once seen as his potential successor.
The surprise decision, announced in a presidential decree broadcast on state television, also included the dismissal of the Central Bank Governor and the Head of the Revenue Authority, both believed to be close associates of Bol Mel.
President Kiir further stripped Bol Mel of his military rank of General and removed him from the National Security Service, but offered no explanation for the sweeping changes.
The move comes amid rising political instability and fears of renewed conflict following the collapse of a fragile power-sharing deal between Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar.
In a measured response, Bol Mel expressed gratitude to the president despite his removal:
“I extend my deepest gratitude to you for granting me the privilege to serve the people of South Sudan as Vice President. I have full confidence that South Sudan and the SPLM will continue to rise under your stewardship,” he wrote in a letter.
Appointed only in February 2025, Bol Mel quickly rose through the ranks, becoming the First Deputy Chairman of the SPLM and gaining significant political influence. Analysts viewed him as a possible successor to the 74-year-old Kiir.
His rise, however, drew international scrutiny — the U.S. Treasury sanctioned him in 2017 for alleged corruption, calling him the president’s “principal financial advisor,” a claim the South Sudanese government has denied.
Local reactions to his dismissal have been mixed but largely supportive. A senior government insider described Bol Mel as a “divisive figure,” while residents in the capital Juba and his hometown Aweil reportedly celebrated the news.
Hours before the announcement, Bol Mel’s security detail was withdrawn from his official residence, signaling the impending shake-up.
South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, continues to face deep political and economic instability more than a decade after gaining independence in 2011. The 2018 peace agreement that ended years of civil war remains fragile, and delayed elections have further heightened tensions.
Former Vice President Riek Machar is currently facing murder, treason, and crimes against humanity charges, which his team has condemned as politically motivated.
As the political storm deepens, Kiir has yet to announce replacements for Bol Mel or the other dismissed officials.