Government documents obtained by HIJ dated 24 February 2023 have revealed new details about the recent firing of South Sudan’s Minister of Defence. The documents show that the Office of the President requested SPLM-IO leader Riek Machar to swap the Ministry of Defence with another ministry, such as the Ministry of Interior.
According to the documents, Riek Machar directed President Salva Kiir to consult with the then Minister of Defence, Angelina Teny, instead of making the swap. It is unclear why the President sought to make the swap in the first place or what his reasoning was behind it.
The firing of Angelina Teny came as a surprise to many, as she had only been in the role for a few months. Her appointment had been seen as a step towards greater inclusivity in the government, as she is the wife of Riek Machar, a key opposition leader.
Days after the firing of Teny, Machar accused the President of violating the Revitalise Peace Agreement and of not consulting SPLM-IO leadership.
