South Sudan's leader Salva Kiir has dismissed one of his vice-presidents, Benjamin Bol Mel, who had been tipped as his possible successor.
Kiir stripped Bol Mel of his military rank of general and dismissed him from the national security service. He also sacked the central bank governor and the head of the revenue authority, both considered close allies of Bol Mel.
No explanation was given for the dismissals, which were announced in a decree broadcast on state television.
This move occurs amidst growing fears of political instability and a possible return to civil war, after the recent collapse of a fragile power-sharing agreement between Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar.
Bol Mel, 47, was appointed vice-president in February, replacing veteran politician and general James Wani Igga. His rise within the ruling SPLM party positioned him as a potential successor to Kiir, who is 74 years old. However, Bol Mel had been under U.S. sanctions since 2017 for alleged corruption.
The president has not announced replacements in any of the positions he held, leaving uncertainty in the government. Speculation on social media hints at an internal power struggle within the SPLM party, with a senior government official describing Bol Mel as a divisive figure in politics.
South Sudan, rich in oil, is the world's newest nation, gaining independence from Sudan in 2011. Since then, it has faced severe challenges, including civil war and political strife, aggravated by the postponement of planned elections and ongoing violence among rival factions.
The latest turmoil within the government raises concerns of further unrest as the region faces a perilous future.
