South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has dismissed the country’s army chief, Paul Nang Majok, just seven months after his appointment. The decision, announced via state radio late Monday, did not include a reason for Majok’s removal.
Majok, who took office in December, oversaw military operations during a period of heightened conflict between government forces and the White Army—a largely Nuer ethnic militia that reignited tensions and sparked fears of instability. He has now been replaced by Dau Aturjong, who has been appointed as the new Chief of Defence Forces.
Commenting on the development, army spokesperson Lul Ruai Koang said it is customary in South Sudan for such changes to occur without official explanation. “It is a tradition—when you’re appointed or relieved, reasons are typically not provided,” he stated.
Although South Sudan has remained officially at peace since the 2018 agreement that ended a brutal five-year civil war, inter-communal violence and clashes involving ethnic militias continue to threaten national stability.
In a related development, March saw First Vice President Riek Machar placed under house arrest. Information Minister Michael Makuei accused Machar of inciting rebellion among his supporters in a bid to derail upcoming elections and destabilize the peace process.
Machar’s party denied involvement with the White Army, which had seized the northeastern town of Nasir earlier this year. However, in May, the South Sudanese military confirmed it had recaptured the town from the militia.
The removal of Majok and the rising tensions raise concerns about South Sudan’s fragile peace and the country’s ability to maintain stability ahead of its planned national elections.
