Machar rejects ‘unilateral’ removal of defense minister, portfolio swap

JUBA, MARCH 3, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – South Sudan’s first vice president and leader of the opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) Riek Machar has described the removal of the minister of defense and ministerial portfolio swap “unilateral” decision.

In a presidential decree readout on the state-own South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) on Friday night, Kiir dismissed Angelina Teny from the defense ministry which she was appointed to at the onset of the transitional period in March 2020.

The president also issued a separate decree dismissing the minister of interior Mahmoud Solomon.

In yet another decree, Kiir swapped the two security ministerial portfolios, saying the defense ministry will now be taken by his party, while Machar’s SPLM-IO will take the ministry of interior.

In reaction, Machar’s acting press secretary Puok Both Baluang who doubles as the SPLM-IO Director of Information and Public Relations said that the changes were not discussed by Kiir and Machar and referred to it as another cycle of peace violation.

“The Republican decree issued this evening by President Salva Kiir on the relieve of Hon. Angelina Teny and switch of ministries of Defense & Veterans Affairs and Interior is unilateral and a new cycle of violating the Revitalized Agreement,” Baluang said in a brief statement.

Speaking to Sudans Post separately, a senior SPLM-IO official said the main armed opposition group is preparing an official response to the dismissal of the defense minister and the swap of portfolio.