South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has dismissed the country’s military chief and reinstated his predecessor, whom he had removed just three months earlier, state-run television announced.
The reshuffle adds to a pattern of constant turnover within South Sudan’s military and government as Kiir grapples with internal conflict and ongoing speculation about his succession, reports REUTERS.
Kiir, 74, has led a transitional government since South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011. National elections have twice been delayed, while First Vice President Riek Machar — his long-time rival during the 2013–2018 civil war — was charged with treason last month.
State broadcaster SSBC reported late on Wednesday that Kiir appointed Paul Nang Majok as the new Chief of Defence Forces, replacing Dau Aturjong, without providing any reason for the decision.
Aturjong was reassigned as a technical adviser at the Ministry of Defence.
In July, Kiir had abruptly dismissed Majok after only seven months in the post, appointing Aturjong in his place.
That earlier move followed renewed clashes in the country’s northeast, where government forces were briefly overrun by a militia linked to Machar’s Nuer ethnic group.
Machar has been under house arrest since March, accused of backing the militia. He went on trial last month on charges of treason, murder, and crimes against humanity, all of which he denies.
His detention has reignited fears of a relapse into full-scale civil war, with supporters accusing the government of violating the 2018 peace and power-sharing agreement.
Analysts suggest Kiir’s frequent changes to the security and political hierarchy are intended to tighten his grip on power while maintaining a delicate balance among rival factions.
Last month, UN investigators accused South Sudanese leaders of “systematic looting” of the country’s resources for personal enrichment.
