Kiir sacks Machar allies in new cabinet shakeup, sparking opposition outcry

JUBA – South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit has dismissed three senior cabinet ministers allied to suspended and detained First Vice President Riek Machar, a move the opposition condemned as a “unilateral” violation of the country’s fragile power-sharing agreement.

The dismissals, announced in a series of presidential decrees read on state-owned television late Wednesday, target key figures within the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–In Opposition (SPLM-IO).

The ousted officials include Martin Gama Abucha, the minister of mining; Peter Marcelo Nasir, the minister of energy and dams; and Aya Benjamin Warile, the minister of gender, child and social welfare.

The three ministers were appointed under the terms of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS). The 2018 accord ended five years of civil war and established a transitional government where portfolios are strictly allocated between Kiir’s party, Machar’s SPLM-IO, and other political factions.

In a swift reshuffle, Kiir appointed Lasuba Wango as the new minister of mining, moving him from the ministry of federal affairs. Agok Makur Kur was named the new minister of energy and dams, while Nuna Ruthop Endefu was appointed to lead the ministry of gender, child and social welfare.

The decrees did not specify the political affiliations of the new ministers, nor did the presidency offer a formal justification for the sudden changes. All the newly appointed ministers belongs to the SPLM-IO faction led by peacebuilding minister Stephen Par Kuol.

The SPLM-IO reacted with sharp condemnation, signaling a deepening rift within the unity government. In a statement following the decrees, SPLM-IO Acting Press Secretary Puok Both Baluang described the decrees as “unilateral and procedurally invalid,” asserting that they ignore the consultation mechanisms mandated by the peace deal.

Baluang further alleged that the new appointees are associated with the “De-Link” group, another term used by Machar allies to identity the faction of defectors led by Par. He characterized the move as a political retaliation for recent military developments in the regions of Jonglei, Eastern Equatoria, and Unity States.

“These measures constitute a weak and reactionary maneuver by the regime,” Baluang said. He added that the dismissals would not deter the party’s objective of establishing “a free, stable and prosperous nation.”

The government in Juba has yet to issue a formal rebuttal to the SPLM-IO’s allegations.

While President Kiir has frequently reshuffled his cabinet during the transitional period, moves that target the opposition’s designated seats have historically triggered bouts of political instability and stalled the implementation of the peace process.

The timing of the shakeup is particularly sensitive as South Sudan prepares for its first-ever sovereign elections, currently scheduled for 2026.

The international community and civil society groups have repeatedly warned that the window for a peaceful transition is closing, as critical components of the 2018 deal—including the unification of the army and the drafting of a permanent constitution—remain largely unfinished.