South Sudan President dismisses 3 ministers in mini cabinet reshuffle

JUBA, South Sudan

South Sudan’s President, Salva Kiir dismissed three national ministers on Monday in a mini cabinet reshuffle amid ongoing political tensions with his First Vice President, Riek Machar.

The surprise move, announced in a presidential decree broadcast on state television, removed Awut Deng Acuil as Minister of General Education; Ruben Madol Arol as Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs; and Joseph Mum Majak as Minister of Trade and Industry. No official explanation was provided for their dismissals.

Ms. Awut and Mr. Madol had held their positions since 2020. Ms. Awut, a veteran official, previously led ministries overseeing gender, child welfare, and labor. Mr. Majak, who was appointed Trade Minister in July 2024, was replaced after less than a year in the role.

President Kiir named Dr. Wek Mamer Kuol, a former deputy cabinet minister who served before the civil war erupted in 2013, as the new Justice Minister.

Atong Kuol Manyang, daughter of Senior Presidential Adviser Gen. Kuol Manyang, was elevated from Deputy Governor of Jonglei State to Trade Minister. Dr. Kuyok Abol Kuyok, an author and academic who had overseen policy as the Education Ministry’s Undersecretary since 2019, will now serve as the Education Minister.

The reshuffle follows a pattern of frequent ministerial turnover under President Kiir, who has used his executive powers to replace officials, sometimes within months of their appointments.

Last week, President Kiir appointed Dr. Riek Gai Kok, a member of the SPLM, as Governor of Jonglei State — a position originally allocated to the opposition South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) under a 2018 peace agreement. A revised 2023 deal transferred the role to Kiir’s SPLM party in exchange for offering SSOA a deputy governor position or national ministry post.

In the Transitional National Legislative Assembly, Kiir revoked the appointments of three lawmakers from Northern Bahr el-Ghazal State representing the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO). Those affected were Bak Deng Nyang, Akec Fabio Goi, and Chan Deng Maror. They were replaced by John Atak Garang Machar, Deng Nyawel Dhieu, and Wol Kuac Wol.

The President also revoked the appointments of SPLM-IO lawmakers from Northern Bahr el-Ghazal in the State Parliament, including Awaya Awaya Makuei, Victor Wol Guoth, Bol Akum Akum, Deng Wol Dheiu, and Theresa Awok Adup. They were replaced by Hajar Mataya, Majok Piol Mayen, Longar Aror, Maria Akum, and James Jem Then.

Additionally, Kiir replaced Atak Garang Akec, from the SPLM-IO, with Bol Akum Akum as Minister for Local Government and Law Enforcement Agencies.