South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit has once again reshuffled the top ranks of his government after dismissing the country’s military chief and finance minister in a dramatic late-night shake-up announced by state media.
The sacked army chief, General Paul Nang, had only served since October but was increasingly facing criticism over deteriorating insecurity across the country. Finance Minister Salvatore Garang Mabiordit also lost his job after spending less than three months in office, having been appointed on February 23.
Kiir has now reappointed General Santino Deng Wol as the new army chief. Wol, a close ally of the president from the Bahr El Gazal region, previously held the same powerful military position between 2020 and 2024.
Meanwhile, career technocrat Kuol Daniel Ayulo has been named the new finance minister. Ayulo previously served as an undersecretary in both the finance and trade ministries.
The latest dismissals add to a growing pattern of frequent government reshuffles under Kiir, moves analysts say are aimed at tightening his grip on power amid uncertainty over succession and growing political tensions in the young nation.
South Sudan continues to struggle with implementing major reforms under the 2018 peace agreement that ended the country’s brutal five-year civil war. Key unresolved issues include the unification of armed groups into one national army and the holding of long-delayed elections.
