South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has reshuffled the leadership of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), appointing his ally, Benjamin Bol Mel, as the party’s new deputy chairperson. The move, announced via an official decree on state television Tuesday night, comes amid escalating violence between rival armed groups and rising concerns over Kiir’s future leadership.
Bol Mel, who serves as Second Vice President, is widely seen as Kiir’s likely successor. He was sanctioned by the United States in 2017 for allegedly benefiting from preferential government contracts through his construction business. The appointment places Bol Mel in line to assume the presidency should Kiir step down.
The reshuffle follows months of political instability, including the house arrest of Kiir’s long-time rival, First Vice President Riek Machar. Machar’s party has denied allegations that he was plotting a rebellion, claiming the move undermines the 2018 peace agreement that ended a five-year civil war between Kiir’s Dinka forces and Machar’s Nuer loyalists.
The reshuffle also saw the demotion of three senior figures from South Sudan’s liberation struggle, including former Second Vice President James Wani Igga. The political realignments come at a time when the country faces renewed international scrutiny, with several Western nations, including the United States, the UK, and Germany, scaling back their diplomatic presence in Juba.
