President Salva Kiir of South Sudan has dismissed senior leaders, including the military head, police chief, and central bank governor, amid unrest and economic challenges. Despite a peace deal in 2018, sporadic violence continues and wages for soldiers remain unpaid. These frequent leadership changes reflect ongoing governance instability as the country faces a postponed national election until 2026.
In a significant reshuffling of leadership, South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has dismissed the head of the military, the police chief, and the central bank governor. The announcement aired on the state broadcaster SSBC did not provide specific reasons for these changes. President Kiir appointed Paul Nang Majok as the new chief of defense forces, replacing General Santino Wol. Additionally, Johnny Ohisa Damian has returned as central bank governor, having been previously dismissed in October 2023, while Abraham Peter Manyuat has been appointed Inspector General of Police, succeeding Atem Marol Biar.
Sources within the military suggest that these dismissals may indicate unrest among the ranks, particularly due to soldiers reportedly not receiving their wages for nearly a year. The government has not issued any comments regarding the motives behind these sudden leadership changes. Prior to these dismissals, there was significant unrest in late November that resulted from an attempted arrest of a former intelligence chief, which incited gunfire in Juba.
The frequency of leadership changes, particularly within the finance sector and the central bank, has characterized recent years in South Sudan. In 2020 alone, the central bank governor was replaced twice. Since the civil war began in 2013, South Sudan’s economy has suffered greatly, displacing approximately a quarter of its population. Although a peace agreement in 2018 brought an official end to a five-year conflict, sporadic violence continues, and the country has postponed its much-anticipated national elections until December 2026, reflecting ongoing challenges within the fragile peace process.
South Sudan, the youngest nation in the world, has faced significant instability since its independence in 2011, particularly following the outbreak of civil war in 2013. The conflict led to widespread economic hardship and severe humanitarian crises, with millions displaced both internally and externally. The international community has sought to support the fragile peace process established by the 2018 peace agreement, yet sporadic violence persists, and economic challenges continue to plague the nation, influencing governmental stability and effectiveness in governance.
The recent dismissals of key military and financial leaders by President Salva Kiir highlight the ongoing instability and unrest in South Sudan’s governance structures. While the reasons behind these changes remain unclear, sources indicate unrest within military ranks due to unpaid wages, underscoring the broader economic challenges facing the nation. The history of abrupt leadership changes suggests a persistent struggle to maintain stability amidst ongoing violence and socio-economic difficulties, particularly as the nation prepares for delayed elections in 2026.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
