JUBA, South Sudan
South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit dismissed four ministers, a governor, and a police chief, while appointing a vice president and chair of the Economic Cluster in his latest Cabinet reshuffle.
In the first decree read on the state-owned South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC), James Wani Igga was appointed president and chair of the Economic Cluster, succeeding Benjamin Bol Mel, who was fired last week.
The second decree, which was also read on the SSBC, removed Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Joseph Geng Akech and replaced him with Michael Makuei Lueth, the former minister of information and communication.
In a third decree, Simon Mijok Mijak, the minister of roads and bridges, was relieved of his duties and replaced by Peter Lam Both.
In the fourth decree, the president removed Josephine Naphon, the minister of environment and forestry, and replaced her with Mabior Garang Mabor.
In the fifth decree, Kiir dismissed Michael Makuei, the minister of information, communication, technology, and postal services, and replaced him with Ateny Wek Ateny, the former press secretary in the President’s Office.
General Abraham Manyuat, inspector general of the National Police Services, was dismissed by the president in the sixth decree and replaced by General Saeed Chawul Lom.
Kiir also appointed James Wani Igga as the SPLM’s first deputy.
Wani Igga, a veteran politician, previously served as the SPLM’s vice president and deputy chair. He was reappointed to the positions he had held before being fired in February.
Kiir also removed Central Equatoria State Governor Rubi Mujung and replaced him with Emmanuel Adil Anthony.
The dismissals were made without explanation.
The peace agreement gives the president the authority to appoint and dismiss government officials at the national and state levels.
South Sudan descended into civil war in 2013, shortly after gaining independence in 2011, after Kiir accused Machar, then his deputy, of plotting a coup. An agreement was signed in 2015, but it collapsed again in 2016. Another peace agreement signed in 2018, which is still in effect currently, though facing some challenges, where the First Vice President, Riek Machar, has been placed under house arrest since March.
He can only appoint and dismiss officials from other political parties with the consent of their leadership.
