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By Dalena Reporters — Juba, South Sudan — 12 November 2025
In a dramatic move signalling deepening turbulence within South Sudan’s political elite, President Salva Kiir Mayardit has officially removed Benjamin Bol Mel from his post as Vice President and as deputy leader of the ruling party. The dismissal, announced via a presidential decree broadcast on state television on Wednesday night, marks a significant rupture between the president and a man long seen as his possible successor.
The decree placed Bol Mel’s removal in the context of a broader reshuffle, which also saw the central bank governor and the head of the revenue authority—both considered close allies of Bol Mel—dismissed from their posts. No formal reason for the dismissals was given in the decree.
The shift follows mounting speculation around succession in the country’s leadership, and underscores President Kiir’s hold on power in a state still navigating the aftermath of civil war and peace-deal fragility.
Bol Mel, a businessman turned politician, was appointed Vice President earlier this year in February and had quickly accumulated influence. Yet his tenure was shadowed by major corruption allegations: he has been under U.S. sanctions since 2017, and a U.N. report in September accused companies linked to him of receiving US$1.7 billion for unfulfilled road contracts.
His promotion and elevation within the party had triggered concern among rival elites in Juba, who perceived his ascent as tilting the balance of power and threatening internal alignment within the country’s ruling structures.
The abrupt dismissal puts a spotlight on the fragility of the transitional government and raises serious questions about succession planning, governance, and stability. Analysts warn that such a major change—especially in a context where elections have already been postponed twice and tensions between different factions remain high—could reignite instability.
Juba has in recent months seen rising clashes between various armed groups and a delayed transition to full democracy. The purge of senior figures seen as aligned to Bol Mel may reflect President Kiir’s attempt to reassert control ahead of an uncertain political future.
With Bol Mel out of power and his network disrupted, attention now turns to who will fill the vacuum in the ruling party and security apparatus. The absence of a clear successor, combined with the contested nature of South Sudan’s governance, suggests that further reshuffles or power moves may soon follow.
Observers will also be watching whether any formal charges or investigations will follow the dismissal, given the corruption allegations and sanctions that shadow Bol Mel’s previous period in office.
The dismissal of Benjamin Bol Mel represents a watershed moment in South Sudan’s political evolution. It exposes the underlying tensions of succession, the enduring influence of patronage networks, and the precarious balance of power in a country still reeling from civil conflict and institutional weakness. As South Sudan’s future direction remains hazy, this shake-up might signal either a consolidation of power by President Kiir or a prelude to deeper upheaval.
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