JUBA — A major reorganization has shaken the upper echelons of power in South Sudan, following a series of presidential decrees announced on Monday evening by President Salva Kiir Mayardit. Several high-ranking officials from the government, security institutions, and the Office of the President have been relieved of their duties and replaced.
The decision, broadcast live on SSBC and then widely circulated across social media, comes amid growing public concern regarding the management of national resources, particularly in the budgetary and petroleum sectors.
These changes also take place as political and diplomatic circles have, for several weeks, been discussing allegations of poor governance, opaque contracting, and illicit enrichment at the highest levels of the state.
The main adjustments announced are as follows:
Manut Yel Biar, Presidential Advisor on National Security Affairs, has been replaced by Tut Gatluak Manime, a key figure in regional mediation efforts.
Athian Ding Athian, Minister of Finance, has been removed from office at a time when calls are growing for a strengthened audit of the national budget. He has been replaced by Dr. Bak Barnaba Chol.
Amb. Chol Mawut Ajonga, Minister of Presidential Affairs, has been replaced by Africano Mande Gidema, signaling a potential recentralization of administrative authority around the Presidency.
Eng. Deng Lual Wol, Deputy Secretary General at the Ministry of Petroleum, has been dismissed, while ongoing questions remain regarding the traceability of certain petroleum revenues. He has been replaced by Dr. Chol Thon Abel.
Amb. Ajiing Deng Ajiing, Executive Director in the Office of the President, has been relieved, and Deng Wal Achien returns to the position.
Maj. Valentino Baak Makuei, Commander of the Presidential Tiger Division, has been replaced by Lt. Gen. Phillip Nyon Nyon, in a context of reassessing internal security balances.
Amb. Rita Kiden Lutua has been appointed as South Sudan’s Ambassador to Rwanda, strengthening the country’s regional diplomatic representation.
For now, no official explanation has been provided regarding the precise motivations behind these decisions.
However, several regional observers and political analysts suggest that the reshuffle may be linked to rising public concern over the country’s financial governance.
Over the past several weeks, civil society organizations, parliamentarians, and international partners have been calling for greater transparency in the management of public resources.
Persistent suspicions of corruption, misappropriation of funds, and the unexplained disappearance of petroleum revenue have circulated widely, particularly regarding the distribution of income from crude oil exports and decision-making processes within the Ministries of Petroleum and Finance.
In this context, some observers interpret these dismissals as an effort to ease public pressure, respond to increasing scrutiny over budgetary opacity, or prevent the launch of internal or international investigations that could potentially expose politically sensitive responsibility.
