JUBA, Oct 9
In a sudden move, South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has dismissed the country’s military chief, General Dau Aturjong, after only three months in the role and reinstated his predecessor, General Paul Ngang Majok, state-run television announced on Wednesday.
The leadership reshuffle extends beyond the military, also involving the dismissals of senior ministers in cabinet affairs and finance. No official reason was provided for the sudden changes.
This decision marks a rapid reversal of a previous appointment made in July, when General Majok was himself removed without explanation after serving seven months as Chief of Defence Forces.
The surprise shake-up occurs against a backdrop of heightened political tension in the world’s youngest nation. The government is currently navigating armed conflict, the indefinite postponement of elections scheduled for December, and the ongoing treason trial of First Vice President Riek Machar, President Kiir’s longtime rival.
Machar, who was a key figure opposing Kiir during a devastating civil war from 2013-2018, was charged with treason last month. His detention has raised fears of a collapse of the 2018 peace agreement that created a transitional unity government.Analysts suggest that President Kiir’s frequent reorganizations of government and military personnel are tactics to consolidate power and manage the competing factions within the country’s fragile political landscape. The persistent instability has drawn international concern, with U.N. investigators recently accusing South Sudan’s leaders of “systematic looting” of national resources for personal gain.
