South Sudan's leader Salva Kiir kicked out James Wani Igga from his top job at the ruling SPLM party. Kiir gave the Secretary General spot to Paul Lagole instead. The president made this change on Friday night through a TV announcement. He also put Baba Medan Konyi into a new role handling money and paperwork for the party. Wani had only worked four months since February when he started the job.
Kiir removed Wani from another government position around the same time. The powerful Benjamin Bol Mel took over that role as second deputy vice president. Lagole comes from Central Equatoria State and has lots of political experience. He worked on important money laws back during 2013 when he ran a key committee. The man still serves as a member of the country's main lawmaking body.
The 73-year-old president keeps moving people around before the country holds its first real elections. Kiir wants people he trusts running important jobs as voting day gets closer. Young leader Bol Mel handles more daily government work as the older president steps back from public events. South Sudan plans to vote for president, lawmakers, and local leaders during December 2026. Past election plans failed because of fighting between Kiir's forces and his rival Riek Machar's supporters.
Kiir removed Wani from another government position around the same time. The powerful Benjamin Bol Mel took over that role as second deputy vice president. Lagole comes from Central Equatoria State and has lots of political experience. He worked on important money laws back during 2013 when he ran a key committee. The man still serves as a member of the country's main lawmaking body.
The 73-year-old president keeps moving people around before the country holds its first real elections. Kiir wants people he trusts running important jobs as voting day gets closer. Young leader Bol Mel handles more daily government work as the older president steps back from public events. South Sudan plans to vote for president, lawmakers, and local leaders during December 2026. Past election plans failed because of fighting between Kiir's forces and his rival Riek Machar's supporters.
