South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has dismissed one of his five Vice Presidents, Benjamin Bol Mel, along with the Governor of the central bank and the Head of the Revenue Authority.
No reason was given for the removal of Bol Mel, who was widely regarded as a potential successor to the President. The decision has raised fresh concerns about political instability in the country.
The move comes just two months after a South Sudanese court charged First Vice President Riek Machar, Kiir’s longtime rival, with murder, treason, and crimes against humanity, charges he denies.
Elections have been delayed twice in three years as tensions between rival factions loyal to Kiir and Machar continue to fuel violence. A 2018 peace deal between the two leaders ended a civil war that claimed around 400 000 lives, but the country remains deeply divided.
–ChannelAfrica–
