South Sudan's Kiir reshuffles military, finance minister amid instability

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir has dismissed the country's army chief and finance minister in the latest reshuffle within the government and military leadership.

State media reported late Wednesday that General Paul Nang Majok was removed as chief of defense forces after serving in the role since October. Majok will now serve as Undersecretary for Veteran Affairs in the Defense Ministry. His tenure had come under growing scrutiny amid worsening insecurity across the country.

Kiir appointed General Santino Deng Wol as the new army chief. Wol, a close ally of the president from the Bahr el Ghazal region, previously held the position between 2020 and 2024.

Finance Minister Salvatore Garang Mabiordit was also dismissed less than three months after taking office in February. He has been replaced by Kuol Daniel Ayulo, a longtime technocrat who previously served as an undersecretary in both the finance and trade ministries.

The changes are the latest in a series of high-level reshuffles under Kiir's administration, moves analysts say reflect efforts to strengthen political control amid uncertainty over succession and ongoing instability.

South Sudan has continued to face security and political challenges despite a 2018 peace agreement that ended a five-year civil war. Key provisions of the deal, including the unification of rival armed groups and the organization of elections, remain largely unimplemented.