Focus on Africa South Sudan: Why was a powerful vice-president fired?
Nov 14, 2025
Dr. Abraham Kualnouan, a political science professor at the University of Juba, analyzes the unsettling dismissal of South Sudan's Second Vice-President and its potential to ignite instability. Dr. Wairumu Mbogo, Kenya's first female president of the Pharmaceutical Society, discusses the transformative impact of the newly launched African Medicines Agency on healthcare across the continent. Sports journalist George Addo Jr. delves into the hefty $13 million price tag for the Angola-Argentina friendly match, highlighting the implications of securing Lionel Messi's presence.
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Sacking Raises Instability Fears
- President Salva Kiir removed Second Vice-President Benjamin Bol Mel and stripped his military and party roles amid corruption and power concerns.
- The dismissal heightens fears of instability and a possible return to civil war after a collapsed power-sharing deal.
Economic Strain Fuels Power Struggles
- Dr Abraham Kualnouan links the vice-presidential power struggle to economic crisis and unpaid salaries, worsening military tensions.
- He notes foreign troops were paid while national soldiers went unpaid, fueling resentment and instability.
Five VPs From Power-Sharing Pact
- South Sudan's five-vice-president structure arose from the 2018 power-sharing peace agreement among multiple signatories.
- The arrangement reflects party and regional bargaining, not streamlined governance or efficiency.