South Sudan President Salva Kiir dismissed Vice President Benjamin Bol Mel from his position on November 12, 2025, through a presidential decree broadcast on state television, also stripping him of his military rank and removing him as deputy leader of the ruling party.</span

NTV Kenya

BBC News

South Sudan President Salva Kiir dismissed Vice President Benjamin Bol Mel from his position on November 12, 2025, through a presidential decree broadcast on state television, also stripping him of his military rank and removing him as deputy leader of the ruling party.

Bol Mel had been appointed vice president in February 2025 and was widely considered a potential successor to the 74-year-old Kiir, having been elevated to first deputy chairman of the ruling SPLM party in May and promoted to general rank in September.</span

TRT Afrika

Bol Mel had been appointed vice president in February 2025 and was widely considered a potential successor to the 74-year-old Kiir, having been elevated to first deputy chairman of the ruling SPLM party in May and promoted to general rank in September.

The dismissed vice president has been under United States sanctions since 2017 for alleged corruption, with a UN report accusing companies affiliated with him of receiving $1.7 billion for road construction work that was never completed.</span

The Straits Times

Africanews

The dismissed vice president has been under United States sanctions since 2017 for alleged corruption, with a UN report accusing companies affiliated with him of receiving $1.7 billion for road construction work that was never completed.

President Kiir also dismissed the central bank governor and head of the revenue authority, both considered close allies of Bol Mel, as part of the same decree that provided no official explanation for the removals.</span

Face2Face Africa

President Kiir also dismissed the central bank governor and head of the revenue authority, both considered close allies of Bol Mel, as part of the same decree that provided no official explanation for the removals.

The dismissals occurred amid growing political instability in South Sudan, where First Vice President Riek Machar was arrested in March and charged with treason, murder and crimes against humanity following deadly violence earlier this year.</span

Guardian

The dismissals occurred amid growing political instability in South Sudan, where First Vice President Riek Machar was arrested in March and charged with treason, murder and crimes against humanity following deadly violence earlier this year.

South Sudan's UN ambassador reaffirmed the government's commitment to the 2018 peace agreement while UN officials warned the country faces escalating violence and potential return to civil war, with elections planned for December 2026.</span

Anadolu Ajansı

South Sudan's UN ambassador reaffirmed the government's commitment to the 2018 peace agreement while UN officials warned the country faces escalating violence and potential return to civil war, with elections planned for December 2026.

South Sudan President Fires VP Amid Political Crisis

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South Sudan President Fires VP Amid Political Crisis

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