South Sudan VP Arrested After Being Fired by President Kiir

The former vice president of South Sudan responsible for the Economic Cluster, Benjamin Bol Mel, was placed under house arrest in Juba on No...

• The former vice president of South Sudan responsible for the Economic Cluster, Benjamin Bol Mel, was placed under house arrest in Juba on November 12, just hours after being removed from his position by President Salva Kiir.
• Security personnel are said to have searched his home, restricted entry, seized personal belongings, and substituted his security team with fresh guards.
• Bol also lost his position within the SPLM party and his military rank, amid ongoing U.S. sanctions and rumors regarding suspected corruption.

Former South Sudanese vice president Benjamin Bol Mel is said to be confined to his residence in Juba.

This occurred several hours following President Salva Kiir's removal of him from the position of Vice President.

Radio Tamazuj, based in Juba, stated that security forces encircled Bol's house in the Jebel region on Wednesday evening, November 12, preventing his family and employees from entering the residence until early Thursday.

A staff member stated that both army and intelligence officers blocked the roads leading to the residence and told family members to remain distant.

A different colleague stated that security officers came into the home and took papers, laptops, and an unknown sum of cash.

The former vice president's private security force was allegedly removed and substituted with fresh personnel who implemented the house confinement.

Close associates of his have refuted claims that multiple high-ranking officials connected to him, such as former tax commissioner Simon Akuei, had also been arrested.

Kiir's televised announcement on Wednesday night stripped Bol of his government post and his role as first deputy chairman of the ruling Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM).

He additionally lost his position within the National Security Service, being reduced from the rank of general to that of a private.

The authorities did not promptly provide an explanation for Bol's termination. This occurred following several hours of rumors, after Bol Mel's security team was removed earlier that day.

Bol was first subjected to sanctions by the United States in 2017 due to claims of excessive corruption.

Prior to his removal, Bol, who was one of Kiir's vice presidents, held the position of vice president for the Economic Cluster, responsible for managing the nation's economic matters.

His troubles occurred several months following the arrest of South Sudan's first vice president earlier in the year.

Riek Machar, who moved from holding a government position to leading the opposition as the head of SPLM-In Opposition, was detained on March 26, along with his wife, Angelina Teny.

The pair was subjected to house detention after claims of hindering peace initiatives and the approaching national elections.

Security personnel reportedly entered their home in Juba, taking them into custody under unclear conditions.

The detentions raised worries among global observers, who were concerned that the delicate advancements achieved under the 2018 Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) might be reversed, possibly leading to a resurgence of hostilities after the leader's arrest.

As the head of the East African Community (EAC), Kenya's President William Ruto intervened to avert a possible crisis after the arrest of the SPLM-IO leader.

Ruto assigned the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga as Nairobi's special envoy to work with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in facilitating peace between the warring groups.

Kenya's Director of Foreign Affairs, Korir Singo'oei, verified the appointment, noting that Raila would play a key role in initiatives aimed at reducing hostilities in South Sudan after Machar's detention.

His task involved conveying Ruto's message to Kiir and Machar, along with interacting with important stakeholders in Juba.

Assuming the responsibility, Raila expressed assurance in the potential for a peaceful settlement and emphasized Kenya's commitment to aiding South Sudan's path to long-term stability.

He was anticipated to inform regional leaders about the developments in his diplomatic efforts and the evolving structure for peace.

South Sudan gained independence in 2011, but by 2013 it was already involved in a civil conflict.

The conflict continued until 2018, when global mediators helped bring about the signing of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).

During the initial years following independence, Kiir and Machar jointly managed leadership duties in a peaceful manner, yet conflicts within the ruling SPLM party resulted in the collapse of their partnership.

Kiir accused Machar of planning a coup, a claim that the latter rejected.

Although there have been attempts at achieving peace, and even the 2018 agreement was signed, the relationship between the two leaders has continued to be tense and politically uncertain up to now.