South Sudanese President Salva Kiir announced a sweeping overhaul of his government on Monday, appointing a new vice-president and returning the son of the country’s founding president to cabinet.
The president also dismissed four ministers a governor, and a police chief in his latest cabinet reshuffle.
In a series of decrees read on the state-owned South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC), James Wani Igga was reinstated as vice-president following his dismissal from the position nine months ago. He succeeds Benjamin Bol Mel who was fired last week.
Wani Igga, a veteran politician, was also reappointed as the first deputy chair of the ruling SPLM party.
Mabior Garang Mabior makes a return to the cabinet as the environment minister. He is the son of former president John Garang, who died a helicopter crash in 2005.
Police chief sacked
In the reshuffle, the president sacked police chief General Abraham Manyuat and replaced him with General Saeed Chawul Lom.
Justice Minister Joseph Geng Akech was replaced by Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth. Ateny Wek Ateny, the former press secretary in the president’s office, is the new information minister.
Simon Mijok Mijak, the minister of roads and bridges, was relieved of his duties and replaced by Peter Lam Both.
President Kiir also removed Central Equatoria State Governor Rubi Mujung and replaced him with Emmanuel Adil Anthony.
The dismissals were made without explanation.
Peace agreement
The peace agreement signed in 2018 gives the president the authority to appoint and dismiss government officials at the national and state levels.
South Sudan seceded from Sudan in 2011 and descended into civil war in 2013 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 is still in effect, though facing challenges, with First Vice President, Riek Machar, placed under house arrest since March.
The president can only appoint and dismiss officials from other political parties with the consent of their leadership.
