President Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan has dismissed Vice President Benjamin Bol Mel, removing him from all government and security positions and stripping him of his military rank of General. The announcement, broadcast on state television on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, came without any official explanation from the presidency. However, political observers say the decision appears to be politically motivated, as Bol Mel has been widely seen as a potential successor to the 74-year-old president, whose health has reportedly been declining. In the same decree, Kiir also dismissed the

President Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan has dismissed Vice President Benjamin Bol Mel, removing him from all government and security positions and stripping him of his military rank of General. The announcement, broadcast on state television on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, came without any official explanation from the presidency. However, political observers say the decision appears to be politically motivated, as Bol Mel has been widely seen as a potential successor to the 74-year-old president, whose health has reportedly been declining. In the same decree, Kiir also dismissed the Governor of the Central Bank and the Director of the National Revenue Authority, both considered close allies of Bol Mel. The simultaneous removals have fueled speculation of a widening power struggle within the ruling elite. South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, has been plagued by political divisions and recurring violence. A civil war broke out in 2013 between forces loyal to Kiir and his then-deputy, Riek Machar, leaving hundreds of thousands dead and millions displaced. Although Kiir and Machar signed a peace agreement in 2018 to form a unity government, sporadic clashes have persisted, and national elections have been postponed twice in recent years. Earlier this year, Macharformerly the First Vice President was dismissed and arrested on charges including murder, treason, and crimes against humanity. His trial remains ongoing in Juba, further deepening political uncertainty. The United Nations has expressed concern about the worsening situation. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations in South Sudan, told the UN Security Council recently that conditions in South Sudan are “deteriorating,” with reports of renewed fighting and human rights violations.

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