NSS summons activist for saying Kiir is ‘wrong’ on sacking of defense minister

JUBA, MARCH 5, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – The National Security Service (NSS) has just summoned an outspoken activist who said in an interview with Sudans Post earlier that President Salva Kiir Mayardit was wrong to remove the minister of defense.

Kiir in a presidential decree read out on the state-own South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) removed the ministers of defense and interior.

Kiir who is an important signatory to the revitalized peace agreement did not immediately name replacement for the two officials.

In a separate decree, Kiir swapped the two ministries saying the defense ministry portfolio which belonged to the main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition until defense minister Angelina Teny’s sacking will go to SPLM-IG and the interior ministry to shift to IO.

When contacted by Sudans Post on the changes by the president, activist Bol Deng Bol, Chairperson of Jonglei State Civil Society Network, said Kiir was wrong and warned him against stealing powers of the other signatories to the revitalized peace agreement.

“It is entirely wrong for President Salva Kiir Mayardit, who equally is a Partner to the Peace agreement, to consistently assume and usurp powers of other co-signatory/partners,” he said on Sunday morning, adding that the moves by Kiir are “blatant violation of the accord and can potentially affect implementation of the Roadmap.”

But in an email to Sudans Post just now, Bol said he has been told to appear before the National Security Service (NSS) office in Bor to answer questions regarding his statement on the removal of the minister of defense.

“As usual, an NSS officer in Bor just called me on phone asking me to appear in their facility which is also their office in Bor about the statement regarding this president’s unilateral decision,” he told Sudans Post, adding that he was not currently in Bor.

In an a recorded interview, Bol said he has been receiving intimidation because of his statements over the removal of the minister of defense from security agencies.