South Sudan: President Salva Kiir Dismisses Vice President Benjamin Bol Mel in Broad Power Shake-Up
JUBA,SOUTH SUDAN. In a striking political turn, President Salva Kiir Mayardit on 12 November 2025 dismissed Vice President Benjamin Bol Mel — who had been widely seen as his potential successor — in a sweeping restructuring of senior government posts.
What the decree says
The presidential decrees, read on state television, removed Bol Mel from his role as Vice President (Economic Cluster), stripped him of his post as First Deputy Chairman of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), and demoted him from general to the rank of private in the National Security Service (NSS). The decree cited unspecified “offences against the state” under the NSS Act but offered no detailed explanation.
Context & background
Bol Mel had been appointed Vice President in February 2025, following a reshuffle in which Kiir placed him in the economic cluster with expectations of major influence. His rapid elevation — including his appointment as SPLM deputy chairman and general rank only months prior — led many analysts to view him as Kiir’s likely heir.
However, controversy has shadowed Bol Mel’s rise. Since 2017, he has been subject to U.S. sanctions for alleged corruption, and a recent U.N. report implicated firms linked to him in mis-used public funds tied to infrastructure contracts.
Immediate implications
Beyond Bol Mel’s removal, the reshuffle extended to senior economic posts: the governor of the central bank and the head of the South Sudan Revenue Authority — both seen as close to Bol Mel — were also dismissed. No successor for Bol Mel’s vice-presidential portfolio has been publicly named yet.
This move signals an important shift: analysts say Kiir is reasserting control over key levers of economic and political power, perhaps acting to pre-empt any internal challenge. One civil-society activist described it as a bid by Kiir “to reclaim authority” from what he called “state-linked power networks.”
Risks & outlook
The dismissal has stirred concern in Juba: with the 2018 peace deal still fragile, delayed elections and rising factionalism, the shake-up could either stabilize or destabilize the political balance. If the purge broadens or provokes resistance, South Sudan faces renewed risk of instability.
For now, all eyes are on what comes next:
Who will fill the void left by Bol Mel’s departure?
Will formal investigations or prosecutions follow the decree?
How will the SPLM’s internal dynamics shift in the coming weeks?
What is the message to the public and the international community about governance, accountability, and reform?
President Kiir’s abrupt removal of his Vice President Benjamin Bol Mel marks a decisive moment in South Sudan’s leadership saga. Whether it will serve as a turning point toward stronger governance, or trigger deeper uncertainty, remains to be seen. As Juba watches closely, the country’s political trajectory may hinge on this moment.
