Kiir Ousts Sanctioned Deputy Bol Mel in Major South Sudan Power Shift

2 hours ago7 min read1 comments

In a dramatic political maneuver, South Sudan's President Salva Kiir has fired Vice-President Bol Mel, a key figure under international sanctions for alleged grand corruption. The dismissal sends shockwaves through the nation's fragile unity government, which was established by a 2018 peace accord that ended a brutal five-year civil war.Bol Mel, a billionaire businessman and longtime Kiir confidant, was appointed vice-president as part of that power-sharing deal, despite being sanctioned by the U. S.Treasury in 2023 for allegedly diverting millions of dollars in public funds through a network of shell companies. His removal is seen as a strategic move by Kiir to consolidate power and appeal to international donors ahead of long-delayed elections.Analysts suggest the ouster eliminates a potential rival from within the president's own party while attempting to project an image of reform. However, the move risks destabilizing the transitional government by alienating Bol Mel's powerful faction and their allied militias. For ordinary South Sudanese, the power struggle in Juba offers little respite from the nation's severe economic crisis and persistent ethnic violence, underscoring how elite political rivalries continue to overshadow the country's pressing humanitarian needs.

#lead focus news

#South Sudan

#Salva Kiir

#Bol Mel

#vice-president

#dismissal

#US sanctions

#corruption

#succession

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