South Sudan's President Salva Kiir Mayardit has sacked more than 37 senior state officials, including vice-presidents, a chief justice, ministers, and army generals, in less than one year.
The latest official to face President Kiir's axe is Benjamin Bol Mel, a high-flying businessman whose swift rise to the second-most powerful position in South Sudan came crumbling on Wednesday, November 12.
Through a presidential decree, Kiir did not only dismiss Bol Mel as second vice-president, but also stripped him of the four-star general rank that he received in September 2025.
The head of state further dismissed Bol Mel from South Sudan's National Security Service.
'Offences against the state'
While no reason was given for the abrupt action, President Kiir's decree alluded to "offences against the state" by Bol Mel.
Specifically, Kiir cited Section 54(1) of South Sudan's National Security Service Act 2014, which partially states: "Any person who is found committing any one of the offences against the state… or who is reasonably suspected of having committed, or having attempted to commit or being about to commit such an offence, shall be arrested without a warrant by any service officer and detained."
While Bol Mel, himself, was a beneficiary of another vice-president's sacking, not many people imagined he would be removed from his powerful post by Kiir, who had given all indications that he trusted and supported Bol Mel to the hilt.
For instance, after naming Bol Mel as second vice-president on February 10, 2025, President Kiir appointed him the first deputy chairperson of the ruling SPLM party in May, and in mid-September, he was promoted to the rank of general, from lieutenant general previously.
Bol Mel welcomes Kiir from UAE trip
All seemed to be going well for the former vice-president, whose public appearances with President Kiir were often photographed and the images widely circulated.
The duo's last notable public engagement was when Bol Mel welcomed Kiir at the Juba International Airport on October 31, 2025, upon the head of state's return from a short trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
One picture of the pair — captured on that day — showed Kiir, who rarely brandishes a smile in public, shaking hands with Mel, while in a near-laughter moment.
Bol Mel, cutting a figure of an easy-but-obedient deputy, reciprocated the president's happy gesture with a smile. But, that was it.
Signs of fallout
On November 12, the former vice-president's office released a statement rejecting rumours that Bol Mel had been placed under house arrest, and his security withdrawn.
The statement said the vice-president (now-former) was "in his office throughout the day, diligently carrying out his official duties as usual," with a keen goal of implementing "President Kiir's vision for a prosperous and self-reliant South Sudan."
A few hours later, President Kiir announced in a state decree that Bol Mel was no longer the country's vice-president.
Citing sources, Sudan's Post reported on Wednesday that Bol Mel appeared to harbour premature "presidential ambitions", which may not have augured well with President Kiir. The former vice-president, however, had not revealed his presidential ambition publicly.
Previously close to Kiir
Until February, when he was appointed vice-president to replace James Wani Igga who had been sacked, Bol Mel had been a quiet businessman, whose companies built mega infrastructure projects in South Sudan.
Apart from overseeing his businesses at the time, he also served as President Kiir's adviser on special programmes, after previous stints as his financial adviser and private secretary.
While Bol Mel's sacking may have made big headlines in South Sudan and internationally, President Kiir's pattern of sacking, rehiring, and re-sacking senior government officials often draws attention.
Since December 2024, no month has passed without the head of state dismissing a high-ranking state official.
At least 37 officials sacked since December 2024
TRT Afrika has counted at least 37 people, who have been sacked since December, with each subsequent month registering at least one high-ranking dismissal.
In July 2024, when he was presiding over the swearing-in of the then-newly appointed Finance Minister Marial Dongrin Ater in South Sudan's capital, Juba, President Kiir said his frequent pattern of sacking and rehiring was aimed at getting "solutions" to the country's problems, including economic and security.
At the time, government workers had gone for nine months without receiving their salaries due to a challenge in generating oil revenue.
"I am looking for solutions. That is why I bring somebody today (and) tomorrow I kick him out and bring (in) another person. I have tried. When I will succeed to get the right person (for the jobs, we'll have uninterrupted leadership)," Kiir said.
Dismissed after days, few months into new jobs
In a bid to get the so-called "solutions", President Kiir has, on some occasions, sacked officials after a few weeks or few months into their jobs.
For instance, Chol Deng, who was South Sudan's Petroleum Minister Undersecretary for one week, was sacked on November 10, while Paul Nang Majok was reinstated as army chief in October after being sacked three months earlier.
In yet another similar pattern, Beny Gideon Mabor was nominated as East African Community (EAC) cabinet minister in early October, but his nomination was revoked a day later, even before he could assume office.
Such happenings have been frequent in South Sudan, where the head of state emphasises a need for long-lasting "solutions" to the nation's challenges.
Below is a list of the senior state officials dismissed by President Kiir over the last one year:
December 9, 2024
1. Deng Wol – Chief of South Sudan's Defence Forces (appoints Paul Nang Majok)
2. James Alic Garang – Governor of South Sudan's Central Bank
3. Atem Marol Biar – Inspector-General of Police
January 10, 2025
4. Tut Gatluak Manime – removed as Presidential Adviser on Security
February 10, 2025
5. James Wani Igga – Vice-President
6. Hussein Abdelbagi – Vice-President
7. Akech Tong Aleu – Director-General of Internal Security Bureau, National Security Services
March 10, 2025
8. Ruben Madol Arol – Justice Minister
9. Awut Deng Acuil – General Education Minister
10. Joseph Mum Majak – Trade Minister
March 20, 2025
11. James Odhok Oyay – Upper Nile State Governor
April 9, 2025
12. Ramadan Mohammed Abdallah – Foreign Affairs Minister (held post for one year)
April 30, 2025
13. Thoi Chany Reat – Presidential Security Adviser
14. Simon Yien Makuach – Director-General of General (External) Security Bureau
15. Kwaja Madol – Undersecretary of Trade and Industry Ministry
May 28, 2025
16. Chan Reec Madut – Chief Justice
June 16, 2025
17. Augustino Jadalla Kamilo Wani – Central Equatoria Governor
July 7, 2025
18. Paul Nang Majok – Chief of South Sudan's Defence Forces (appoints Dau Aturjong)
August 6, 2025
19. Pal Mai Deng – Water Minister
August 21, 2025
20. Marial Dongrin Ater – Finance Minister
21. Dhieu Mathok Diing – Investment Minister
September 1, 2025
22. Emmanuel Okello – Western Bahr el Ghazal Governor
23. Taban Abel Aguek – Deputy Commissioner-General of South Sudan Revenue Authority
24. Wek Mamer Kuol – Justice Minister
October 8, 2025
25. Dau Aturjong – Chief of South Sudan's Defence Forces (reinstates predecessor, Paul Nang Majok)
26. Lam Akol Ajawin – Transport Minister
27. Beny Gideon Mabor – Nominated as EAC Affairs Minister, but nomination revoked a day later
November 3, 2025
28. Madut Biar Yel – Presidential Adviser on National Security (reinstates Tut Gatluak Manime, who was removed in January 2025)
29. Athian Diing Athian – Finance Minister (replaces him with former office holder, Barnaba Bak Chol)
30. Chol Ajongo – Minister of Presidential Affairs
31. Ajing Deng – Executive Director in Office of President (replaced with former office holder James Deng Wal)
32. Deng Lual – Petroleum Ministry Undersecretary (replaced with Chol Deng)
November 10, 2025
33. Chol Deng – Petroleum Ministry Undersecretary (sacked after one week, replaced with predecessor Deng Lual).
November 12, 2025
34. Benjamin Bol Mel – Vice-President
35. Paul Logale Jumi – SPLM Secretary-General
36. Addis Ababa Othow – Central Bank Governor
37. Simon Akuei – Commissioner-General of South Sudan Revenue Authority
