South Sudan President Salva Kiir has dismissed three ministers amid escalating political tensions. This reshuffle includes Wek Mamer Kuol replacing Ruben Madol Arol as Minister of Justice, along with other significant changes. This occurs against a backdrop of violence in Nasir, prompting international calls for stability and peace in the region.
In a significant political development, South Sudan President Salva Kiir has dismissed three ministers amid escalating tensions within the government. This reshuffle occurred on Monday evening and is part of a broader political crisis threatening the unity government established under a 2018 peace agreement that ended the five-year civil war, as reported by News.az citing Xinhua.
The presidential decree, which was aired on South Sudan’s state-run broadcasting service, resulted in the removal of Ruben Madol Arol from the position of Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs. He was succeeded by Wek Mamer Kuol, a former deputy cabinet minister. Additionally, Awut Deng Acuil was relieved of her role as Minister of General Education and Instruction, with Kuyok Abol Kuyok appointed to replace her. Joseph Mum Majak, who had been serving as Minister of Trade and Industry since July 2024, was also dismissed. No reasons for these dismissals were provided by the president.
This cabinet reshuffle follows serious armed confrontations in Nasir, which included an attack on a United Nations aircraft resulting in the deaths of UN personnel and numerous soldiers on March 7. Given this backdrop, the international community has urged all conflicting parties in South Sudan to promote the transition toward stability, democracy, and lasting peace, emphasizing the need to avert further descent into chaos.
The situation in Nasir, a strategically significant town, has intensified since March 3, leading to 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 been killed, with several others injured in the vicinity of Nasir, particularly near the border of South Sudan and Ethiopia.
The recent dismissal of three ministers by President Salva Kiir illustrates the ongoing political turmoil in South Sudan, which jeopardizes the stability of the unity government formed through the 2018 peace deal. As armed confrontations intensify, particularly in Nasir, the international community’s calls for stability and peace become increasingly critical to prevent a return to chaos and further violence in the country.
Original Source: news.az
