South Sudan President Reinstates Former Vice President After Dismissing Another

State television reported that South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has reinstated his former deputy, James Wani Igga, to the same position after dismissing a powerful ally who had been widely viewed as a potential successor.

Concerns over a return to civil war have been mounting as uncertainty grows around the succession of the 74-year-old Kiir, who has repeatedly dismissed senior officials, reinstated them, and sometimes removed them again.

Analysts say these moves aim to appease competing factions and navigate politically turbulent moments.

Igga, a former Speaker of Parliament, had previously served as Kiir’s vice president from 2013 until his dismissal in February.

Last week, Kiir abruptly dismissed Benjamin Bol Mel—one of his closest allies who had served as vice president for about nine months—along with the central bank governor and several other officials.

Kiir also fired and reinstated several additional officials in a decree issued on Monday and broadcast by the state-run South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation.

Among them was Michael Makuei, who long served as Minister of Information and was transferred to the Ministry of Justice, while Mabior Garang de Mabior—the son of South Sudan’s founding father John Garang—was appointed Minister of Environment and Forestry.