South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit has dismissed Vice Presidents James Wani Igga and Hussein Abdelbagi, along with National Security Service head Akech Tong Aleu, in a decree announced on South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation on Monday night.
In a separate decree, Benjamin Bol Mel was appointed to replace Wani Igga as vice president representing the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement. Josephine Lago Yang, chairperson of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance, was named as Abdelbagi’s successor. Abdelbagi had held the position since 2020 under the terms of the revitalized peace agreement.
Following his removal as vice president, Wani Igga was reassigned as Secretary-General of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement. Meanwhile, Charles Chiech Mayor, previously the Deputy Director General of the National Security Service, was appointed as acting director general after Aleu’s dismissal.
Aleu was removed after only four months in office, though no official reason has been provided for the dismissals.
South Sudan is among the few countries with five vice presidents, a structure created under the 2018 peace agreement to maintain political balance in the country.