South Sudan’s Kiir ousts vice-president and allies in sudden purge

South Sudan's Kiir ousts vice-president and allies in sudden purge

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir dismissed Vice-President Benjamin Bol Mel in a surprise decree broadcast on state television late Wednesday, stripping him of his military rank and removing him from the national security service. The move also included the sacking of the central bank governor and the revenue authority chief-both considered Bol Mel's close associates-without public explanation.

The dismissals come amid escalating fears of political instability and a potential return to civil war, following the collapse of a fragile power-sharing deal between Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar. Bol Mel, 47, had been appointed vice-president in February, replacing veteran politician James Wani Igga, and was widely seen as a potential successor to the 74-year-old Kiir.

Rapid rise and fall of a controversial figure

Bol Mel's ascent was swift: he was named first deputy chairman of the ruling Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) and later promoted to the rank of general in the National Security Service (NSS). His rise occurred despite U.S. sanctions imposed in 2017-and renewed this year-for alleged corruption. The U.S. Treasury labeled him Kiir's "principal financial advisor," a claim Kiir's office denied. Bol Mel never publicly addressed the allegations or his dismissal.

Hours before the decree, security personnel were reportedly withdrawn from Bol Mel's residence and office in the capital, Juba. Kiir has yet to name replacements for any of the vacated positions.

Public reaction and political tensions

Reactions to Bol Mel's removal were mixed but largely approving. A senior government official, speaking anonymously to the BBC for safety reasons, called him a "divisive figure," adding, "It's good that he has gone." A taxi driver in Juba echoed the sentiment: "Everybody hates this man. Even in his hometown of Aweil, people celebrated his dismissal. We are happy for President Kiir."

The purge follows weeks of social media speculation about an internal power struggle within the SPLM, South Sudan's dominant political party. Analysts had noted Bol Mel's growing influence, which some viewed as a threat to Kiir's long-standing authority.

Fragile peace under strain

South Sudan, the world's youngest nation after gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, plunged into civil war in 2013 when Kiir and Machar, then vice-president, fell out. A 2018 power-sharing agreement ended major hostilities but has faced persistent challenges, including delayed elections and sporadic violence.

Tensions flared further this year after Machar-Kiir's former deputy-was sacked, arrested in February, and charged in September with murder, treason, and crimes against humanity. Machar's spokesperson dismissed the charges as a "political witch-hunt." The case stems from an alleged militia attack linked to Machar, which the government claims killed 250 soldiers and a general.

Escalating violence and delayed elections

Planned elections have been postponed twice in three years, while clashes between pro-government forces and armed groups have intensified. The latest political upheaval risks deepening instability in the oil-rich but conflict-prone nation, where ethnic and factional divisions remain unresolved.