President Salva Kiir has removed Vice‑President Benjamin Bol Mel, stripped him of his general rank and dismissed senior officials seen as his allies in a state‑televised decree that gave no reason. Bol Mel, appointed earlier this year and viewed by some analysts as a potential successor, has been under US corruption sanctions since 2017. The move heightens fears of renewed instability after the collapse of the Kiir‑Machar power‑sharing deal, with postponed elections and recent spikes in violence amplifying concerns of a return to civil war.
South Sudan Shake‑Up: President Kiir Removes Vice‑President Benjamin Bol Mel, Sparking Fears of Renewed Conflict
President Salva Kiir has removed Vice‑President Benjamin Bol Mel, stripped him of his general rank and dismissed senior officials seen as his allies in a state‑televised decree that gave no reason. Bol Mel, appointed earlier this year and viewed by some analysts as a potential successor, has been under US corruption sanctions since 2017. The move heightens fears of renewed instability after the collapse of the Kiir‑Machar power‑sharing deal, with postponed elections and recent spikes in violence amplifying concerns of a return to civil war.
01:20 PM, 11/13/2025Politics
President Kiir Removes Vice‑President Benjamin Bol Mel
South Sudan's president, Salva Kiir, has dismissed Vice‑President Benjamin Bol Mel, stripped him of his rank as a general and removed him from the National Security Service (NSS). The decree announcing the dismissals was read on state television and offered no official explanation.
Senior Officials Also Ousted
The same decree also sacked the governor of the central bank and the head of the revenue authority — both widely reported to be close allies of Bol Mel. The president has not yet named replacements for any of the vacated positions.
Context and Reactions
Bol Mel, 47, was appointed vice‑president in February and was elevated to first deputy chairman of the ruling SPLM party, moves analysts say increased his influence and positioned him as a potential successor to the 74‑year‑old president. He was later given the full rank of general within the NSS.
Bol Mel has been subject to US sanctions since 2017 over alleged corruption; those measures were renewed earlier this year. The US Treasury described him as Kiir's 'principal financial advisor', a characterization Kiir's office has denied. Bol Mel has not publicly responded to the corruption allegations and has not commented on his dismissal.
“He was a divisive figure in government,”
A government source who asked to remain anonymous for safety reasons told reporters the removal was welcome, saying, 'It's good that he has gone.'
Wider Political Risks
The shake‑up comes amid rising fears of political instability and the potential return to civil war after the fragile power‑sharing agreement between Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar recently collapsed. South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, descended into civil war in 2013 after tensions between Kiir and Machar escalated.
The 2018 peace deal that ended the worst of the fighting has remained fragile: planned national elections have been postponed twice in three years, and clashes involving pro‑government forces and various armed groups have increased. Machar was removed as vice‑president and arrested earlier this year; in September he was charged with murder, treason and crimes against humanity, charges his spokesperson called a 'political witch‑hunt.' The government says the charges relate to an attack by a militia allegedly linked to Machar that killed 250 soldiers and a general.
What Comes Next
Observers say the abrupt dismissals — coming without public explanation or immediate replacements — will deepen uncertainty in Juba and among international partners monitoring South Sudan's fragile peace process. Social media speculation about an internal power struggle within the SPLM has proliferated since the announcement.
Note: All developments remain fluid. Officials have given limited comment and independent verification of some reports is incomplete.