South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has dismissed one of his five vice presidents, Benjamin Bol Mel, amid escalating internal conflict.
Bol Mel, appointed in February and considered a potential successor, was also stripped of his party leadership role and demoted in the security services.
With no reason provided for his removal, he has not responded to corruption allegations, including U.S. sanctions and accusations of receiving $1.7 billion for uncompleted road projects. Kiir also fired the central bank governor and revenue authority head, both close to Bol Mel. These moves occur amid concerns over Kiir’s succession plans, postponed elections, and renewed fighting, amid fears of a return to civil war in the young nation, which gained independence in 2011 but has faced ongoing instability.
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