JUBA — South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit issued a series of decrees on Wednesday night, signaling a significant political reconfiguration in Jonglei State ahead of the country’s anticipated elections in December 2024.
In a move that garnered attention, Kiir dismissed Elizabeth Nyadak John from her position as the Minister of Information in Jonglei State, appointing Marlin David Kuony Jany as her successor.
Marlin is the wife of Major General Lul Ruai Koang, the spokesperson for the country’s army, the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces South (SSPDF).
The decision to appoint Jany, who — probably — has direct ties to the military establishment through her husband, suggests a strategic maneuver by Kiir to realign leadership dynamics in the state.
The reshuffle extended to the dismissal of Atong Kuol Manyang, the Minister of Animal Resources and Fisheries in Jonglei State.
Atong, a daughter of senior presidential advisor Kuol Manyang Juk, faced removal in what analysts interpret as part of Kiir’s broader agenda to recalibrate key positions ahead of the elections.
While the specific reasons behind Kiir’s decisions were not explicitly stated in the decree, the timing of these decrees within the context of South Sudan’s political landscape gearing up for electoral contests underscores their significance in shaping the country’s political trajectory.
