South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has appointed his daughter, Adut Salva Kiir, as Senior Presidential Envoy for Special Programmes, reinstating a powerful office that reports directly to the presidency.
The post was previously held by Benjamin Bol Mel, a close Kiir ally who was elevated to vice president in February and put in charge of the economic cluster.
Adut Kiir, who in recent years has worked through the Adut Salva Kiir Foundation, now joins the president’s inner circle in a formal capacity. The move drew swift criticism from civil society groups and commentators who said it reinforces a pattern of family-centered appointments at the top of government.
Analysts say the choice underscores Kiir’s tightening control ahead of long-delayed elections, arguing that consolidating influence among trusted insiders has become a hallmark of his rule. Supporters counter that the appointment could bring energy and focus to special programmes overseen from the presidency.
