In one of the most sweeping political shake-ups in recent years, South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has dismissed Dr Benjamin Bol Mel from his position as Vice President and First Deputy Chairman of the SPLM, stripping him of all government and party responsibilities.
The presidential decree, announced on state-run SSBC Wednesday night, also demoted Bol Mel from General to Private in the National Security Service (NSS) effectively erasing every title he held in both the state and party hierarchy.
The move came only hours after security personnel assigned to Bol Mel’s residence and office were abruptly withdrawn, sparking speculation of an imminent fallout within the ruling SPLM.
No official reason was given for his dismissal, and no replacement has yet been named.
Bol Mel, 52, had been appointed Vice President and head of the government’s Economic Cluster in February, replacing veteran politician Dr James Wani Igga.
His rapid rise through the ranks including his appointment as SPLM First Deputy Chairman in May and his promotion to full General in September was seen by many observers as evidence of growing influence and possible grooming as a future successor to Kiir.
However, his tenure has been marred by persistent allegations of corruption, political ambition, and financial mismanagement, especially in relation to the government’s economic recovery programs.
Wednesday’s decrees have sent shockwaves across Juba’s political scene, highlighting the volatility within South Sudan’s ruling elite and suggesting that no position remains untouchable in Kiir’s government.
The President also dismissed several other senior officials, including SPLM Secretary General Paul Logale, Central Bank Governor Addis Ababa Othow, and Revenue Authority Commissioner General Simon Akuei, replacing them with new loyalists a move analysts interpret as a complete re-alignment of power ahead of the 2025 elections.
