Kiir replaces Nhial Deng Nhial with ex-foreign minister Barnaba M. Benjamin

JUBA – South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit has issued a republican decree firing the minister in the office of the president, Nhial Deng Nhial and replacing him with former foreign minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin who was also serving as a senior presidential envoy.

Nhial was appointed in June last year after Kiir fired Mayik Ayii Deng in the wake of the Bahr el Ghazal Highway scandal in which Kiir expressed anger over how a contract was distorted in a corruption-related case.

Marial, a veteran politician who was appointed in 2013 as the country’s foreign minister was serving as the minister of information prior to July 2013.

He has served different roles in the government and in Sudan’s transitional government following the signing of the comprehensive peace agreement in 2005.

Kiir had earlier dismissed the army chief General Johnson Juma Okot replacing him with General Santino Deng Wol who was serving as division 3 commander.

He also removed Director-General of the General Intelligence Bureau Thomas Duoth Guet replacing him with General Yien Makuac who was the commander of the army’s sixth infantry division.

General Johnson Juma further was appointed in a separate decree as the country’s ambassador to Begium and General Duoth as the ambassador of South Sudan to Kuwait.