South Sudan's Salva Kiir fires spy chief, promotes ally

 

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir has fired his new security chief and promoted an ally to vice-president in what was speculated as a possible move to prepare for his succession.

Kiir fired two of the five vice-presidents in his unity government, promoting ally Benjamin Bol Mel to vice-president in charge of the economic portfolio, in a presidential decree read out on state television late Monday.

He also fired Akech Tong, appointed in only October, as head of national security. It did not name a successor for that post.

The decree gave no reason for the reshuffle.

Speculation has mounted in South Sudanese media that Kiir, 73, may be preparing for an exit and that Bol Mel is the president's first choice to succeed him if he is forced to quit for health reasons.

Kiir and his rival, First Vice President Riek Machar, united in government under a 2018 peace deal that ended a five-year civil war, with other opposition figures holding key posts.

Under the agreement, Kiir was meant to consult with the other parties before removing their vice presidents or ministers from their government posts.

In Monday's decree, another Kiir ally, James Wani Igga, and opposition figure Hussein Abdelbagi were dismissed from their vice-presidential posts, along with several ministers.

Kiir had also fired his previous spy chief in October. Nearly two months later a deadly clash took place outside his home in the capital Juba.

In September 2024 he postponed for a further two years elections that had been scheduled under the country's transitional agreement for December.

Citizens have waited to elect their leaders since South Sudan achieved its hard-won independence from Sudan in 2011, dogged by violence and political infighting.