JUBA | May 6, 2026
South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has carried out a fresh reshuffle affecting senior government and military leadership, removing the finance minister and the chief of defense forces in the latest changes within the transitional administration.
In decrees announced on Wednesday evening through the state broadcaster, the president dismissed Salvatore Garang Mabior from his position as minister of finance and planning and relieved Gen. Paul Nang Majok of his duties as chief of defense forces.No official reasons were provided for the changes.
Salvatore Garang Mabior had served as finance minister since February 2026, while Gen. Paul Nang Majok was appointed army chief in October 2025.President Kiir appointed Kuol Daniel Ayulo as the new minister of finance and planning. Ayulo previously served as the First Undersecretary in the finance ministry and has held the role on several occasions.
The president also returned Gen. Santino Deng Wol to the position of chief of defense forces after previously serving as undersecretary for veteran affairs in the Ministry of Defense and Veteran Affairs. He earlier held the army chief position from April 2021 until December 2024.Gen. Paul Nang Majok was reassigned to serve as undersecretary for veteran affairs in the defense ministry.
In additional appointments, Clement Juma was named minister of agriculture and food security, filling a vacancy that has existed since February, while former Jonglei State governor Mahjoub Biel Turuk was appointed deputy minister of public service, replacing Julius Tabuley.Observers say the latest reshuffle reflects a continuing pattern of leadership rotations within the government rather than broad institutional reform.
The changes come at a time when South Sudan is facing serious economic difficulties, including cash shortages, delays in salary payments for civil servants and ongoing concerns over public financial management.The military changes are also seen as linked to wider security concerns and efforts to strengthen leadership within the armed forces amid tensions between rival groups.
There are growing concerns that frequent changes in senior government positions, particularly in the finance ministry, could undermine efforts to stabilize the economy and improve public service delivery. Calls have also continued for steps to reduce tensions and prevent renewed military confrontations in the country.
South Sudan remains under the 2018 peace agreement, which grants the president authority to appoint and dismiss senior officials. Implementation of the agreement has faced repeated delays as the country prepares for elections scheduled for December this year.The latest developments come amid disagreements over proposed amendments to the peace deal.
Opposition groups and peace monitoring bodies have raised concerns about the planned changes and the broader political environment ahead of the elections.Riek Machar, one of the key signatories to the peace agreement and leader of the main opposition faction, remains under detention after being suspended as first vice president and later charged with treason before a special court in Juba.
Regional and international actors have continued to call for inclusive political dialogue and measures aimed at preserving stability as the country moves toward the planned elections.
