Kiir overhauls security sector, sacks army, police chiefs in sweeping reshuffle

JUBA – South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit dismissed the country’s army chief, police inspector-general, and central bank governor in a sweeping security and administrative overhaul, just weeks after heavy gunfire rocked the capital Juba, raising concerns about internal tensions in the security sector.

The reshuffle, announced late Monday through decrees broadcast on the state-run South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC), included the removal of General Santino Deng Wol as Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF), the country’s national army.

In a separate decree, Kiir appointed General Paul Nang Majok as the sixth army chief to replace General Santino, who had held the role since April 2021. The list of previous army chiefs since independence includes General James Hoth Mai, General Paul Malong Awan, General Gabriel Jok Riak, General Juma Akot, and General Santino Deng Wol.

While security chiefs have typically served longer terms in South Sudan than political office holders such as ministers and state governors, recent years have seen growing instability marked by frequent changes.

Analysts attribute this to increasing distrust and paranoia within Kiir’s government, which has been under pressure to maintain security in the fragile state.

Kiir also reassigned General Santino Deng Wol to serve as the undersecretary at the Ministry of Defense, replacing Atak Santino Majak, who was removed in a concurrent decree.

Deng’s appointment marks his first administrative role, following his military career that included commanding the 3^rd Infantry Division of the SSPDF in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State before ascending to army chief.

The president also dismissed Lieutenant General Atem Marol Biar as Inspector-General of Police, appointing General Abraham Peter Manyuat in his place. Biar had been in the position since taking over from General Majak Akec during a period marred by coup rumors.

In the financial sector, Kiir replaced James Alic Garang as the governor of the Bank of South Sudan, reinstating Johnny Ohisa Damian, who had served in the role until October last year. Garang Majak, the first undersecretary in the Ministry of Finance and Planning, was also relieved of his duties and replaced by Arop Nuoi Arop.

Although Kiir provided no official explanation for the sweeping changes, the move follows a violent incident in Juba’s upscale Thongpiny neighborhood last month. Security forces clashed while attempting to detain former Director-General of the Internal Security Bureau (ISB) of the National Security Service (NSS), General Akol Koor Kuc.

The operation, reportedly carried out on Kiir’s direct orders, resulted in heavy gunfire that left four people dead, including a schoolgirl and a lawyer, and several others wounded.

The SSPDF described the violence as a “misunderstanding” among security personnel deployed at Koor’s residence. The incident, which highlighted underlying tensions within the security apparatus, drew parallels to past escalations of violence in Juba, particularly the clashes of December 2013 and July 2016.

Kiir formed a committee to investigate the incident, but the reshuffle signals his intent to stabilize the security sector amid fears of internal discord. The changes underscore the fragile nature of South Sudan’s governance amid the struggle to implement a fragile 2018 peace agreement.