President Salva Kiir of South Sudan has dismissed three ministers amid rising political tensions and violence in Nasir, threatening the unity government established in 2018. The international community urges a transition towards stability and peace as the situation worsens.
On Monday evening, President Salva Kiir of South Sudan conducted a cabinet reshuffle, dismissing three ministers amidst an ongoing political crisis threatening the unity government established by a 2018 peace agreement that concluded a five-year civil war. According to News.az, this change was reported by Xinhua.
In a presidential decree broadcast by the South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation, Kiir appointed Wek Mamer Kuol as the new minister of justice and constitutional affairs, replacing Ruben Madol Arol. Additionally, Kuyok Abol Kuyok was designated as the new minister of general education and instruction, succeeding Awut Deng Acuil, while Joseph Mum Majak was let go from his role as minister of trade and industry.
Both Awut Deng Acuil and Ruben Madol Arol had maintained their ministerial roles since 2020; Joseph Mum Majak was appointed in July 2024. Notably, the president did not disclose the specific reasons for their dismissals.
These ministerial changes occurred following violent confrontations in Nasir, particularly an attack on a United Nations aircraft that resulted in fatalities among UN personnel and numerous soldiers on March 7. The international community has urged the conflicting parties in South Sudan to facilitate a transition towards stability, democracy, and sustainable peace, warning against the potential for the country to regress into chaos.
The ongoing conflict in Nasir, a strategically significant town, has intensified since March 3. This escalation prompted the arrest of high-ranking officials from the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army-In Opposition (SPLM/A-IO), which is led by First Vice-President Riek Machar. Reports indicate that over 20 individuals have lost their lives, with many others injured in areas surrounding Nasir, near the South Sudan-Ethiopia border.
In summary, President Salva Kiir’s recent cabinet reshuffle reflects the escalating tensions in South Sudan, which have been exacerbated by ongoing violence in Nasir. The dismissals of senior ministers without stated reasons signal pressing political instability in the country. The international community continues to call for peace and stability, urging all stakeholders to work towards avoiding a regression into chaos.
Original Source: news.az
