South Sudan's Political Turmoil: President Kiir Dismisses Vice-President Mel

Thu Nov 13 2025 12:33:02 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a surprising move, South Sudan's President Salva Kiir has dismissed Vice-President Benjamin Bol Mel amid fears of political instability and internal power struggles within the ruling SPLM party.

President Salva Kiir has removed Vice-President Bol Mel, who was seen as a potential successor. This decree follows the collapse of a power-sharing agreement and growing political tensions, raising concerns about a return to civil conflict in South Sudan. Bol Mel, previously under US sanctions for corruption, has not commented on his dismissal, which leaves political vacancies as uncertainty looms over the nation's future.

South Sudan's leader Salva Kiir has dismissed Vice-President Benjamin Bol Mel, who was viewed as a potential successor to the presidency. Kiir's decree, broadcasted on state television, not only stripped Bol Mel of his military rank as a general but also dismissed him from the national security service. In addition, the governor of the central bank and the head of the revenue authority, both allies of Bol Mel, were also let go.

The dismissals come amid rising fears of political instability following the collapse of a fragile power-sharing agreement between Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar. Observers are concerned about a possible return to civil war which has plagued the country since its independence from Sudan in 2011.

Bol Mel, at 47 years old, was appointed as the vice-president in February of this year, replacing veteran politician James Wani Igga. His appointment as the first deputy chairman of the ruling SPLM party further positioned him as a prominent figure within the government. However, his association with US sanctions regarding alleged corruption since 2017 has marred his reputation, described by the US Treasury as Kiir’s "principal financial advisor."

As of now, President Kiir has not announced any replacements for the positions vacated by Bol Mel and others. Speculation on social media indicates there has been significant internal conflict within the SPLM party. A senior government official, wishing to remain anonymous, commented that the departure was positive, calling Bol Mel a "divisive figure" in the government.

With South Sudan being rich in oil, its new status as a country has been overshadowed by internal strife and violence following the initial civil war. Elections already postponed twice over the last three years further highlight the political unrest. The tension had escalated recently, particularly following Machar's arrest and subsequent charges of murder and treason earlier this year, deemed by some as a political maneuver that could only worsen the state of affairs.