JUBA, South Sudan — The recent reshuffle in South Sudan’s Cabinet has sparked concern from the country’s deputy president, who warns that the dismissals of several high-ranking officials may jeopardize the delicate peace deal established with President Salva Kiir in 2018.
Riek Machar, whose past rivalry with Kiir has escalated into civil conflict, is urging for the reinstatement of sacked figures, including Health Minister Yolanda Awel Deng and General Alfred Futuyo Karaba, the governor of Western Equatoria state.
Kiir’s actions have also led to the ouster of two other vice presidents and the head of the intelligence services.
Machar stated that the unilateral removal of these officials represents a breach of the power-sharing agreement made in 2018, an arrangement that allowed him to return to the capital, Juba, as the first vice president of South Sudan.
According to Machar, these ongoing violations by Kiir undermine the very foundation of the peace agreement, which was intended to stabilize the nation. Kiir’s administration has yet to provide any response to these allegations.
As per the 2018 accord, South Sudan is mandated to have five vice presidents, a framework that was pivotal in concluding a five-year civil war, supported by international entities like the United States.
After gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, hopes for peace and stability in the oil-rich nation quickly diminished as civil war erupted in December 2013. This conflict largely unfolded along ethnic lines, with fighting breaking out between Kiir’s supporters and those aligned with Machar.
Despite the peace agreement of 2018, its implementation remains incomplete, with notable challenges such as the government’s failure to follow through with promised reforms, including the unification of military command structures. The timeline for presidential elections has faced numerous delays, now slated for 2026.
Experts from the United Nations have previously cautioned that South Sudan’s stability is at risk due to both missed deadlines and ongoing political stalemate surrounding key issues in the unity government’s agreement.
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This article has been amended to remove an inaccurate quote that was previously attributed to Vice President Riek Machar regarding the possible withdrawal from the 2018 peace agreement following President Kiir’s recent firings.
