South Sudan’s VP Benjamin Bol Mel Dismissed Amid Rising Political Tensions

South Sudan is facing fresh political turbulence as President Salva Kiir has dismissed Vice-President Benjamin Bol Mel, a key figure previously seen as a potential successor. Bol Mel was stripped of his military rank as general and removed from the National Security Service (NSS), signaling a significant shake-up in the government.

In addition to Bol Mel, the president also sacked the central bank governor and the head of the revenue authority, both closely aligned with the former vice-president. The decrees announcing these removals were broadcast on state television, though no official reason was provided for the dismissals.

Bol Mel, 47, had been appointed vice-president in February, succeeding James Wani Igga. Shortly after, he was made the first deputy chairman of the ruling SPLM party, a move analysts viewed as positioning him for future leadership. He was later promoted to general within the NSS. His rise came despite US sanctions against him for alleged corruption in 2017, which were reaffirmed earlier this year. The US Treasury described him as President Kiir’s “principal financial advisor,” a claim denied by Kiir’s office.

Observers now fear that Bol Mel’s removal could intensify political instability in South Sudan. The country, rich in oil, became independent in 2011 but was plunged into civil war by 2013 after a fallout between Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar. Though a 2018 power-sharing deal temporarily ended the conflict, sporadic violence continues, and planned elections have been delayed multiple times.

Earlier this year, Machar was dismissed as vice-president, arrested, and charged with murder, treason, and crimes against humanity, a move widely viewed as exacerbating tensions. Government officials allege his militia was responsible for an attack killing 250 soldiers and a general, while Machar’s team calls the charges a “political witch-hunt.”

With Bol Mel’s removal and the ongoing unrest, the fragile stability in South Sudan faces new pressures. Analysts warn that the country could be on the brink of renewed conflict if political disputes are not resolved and the security situation deteriorates further.