Written by: Badr Ahmed

On Sunday, the President of the Republic of South Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit, issued two presidential decrees that included a broad reshuffle of the government of Western Equatoria State, which included the dismissal and appointment of a number of ministers, heads of independent bodies and county commissioners, in a move aimed at restructuring local administration and strengthening the performance of state institutions.

Salva Kiir makes sweeping changes to the government of Western Equatoria State

According to Republican Decrees No. 169 of 2026 and 170 of 2026, the exemption decisions included 7 ministers in the state government, namely the ministers of roads and bridges, culture, youth and sports, education, local government and law enforcement, livestock, fisheries and tourism, housing, land and public utilities, in addition to the Minister of Health.

The decisions also included the dismissal of the head of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, the deputy head of the HIV/AIDS Commission, along with four county commissioners in Yambio, Ezo, Mundri East and Tambora.

In contrast, President Salva Kiir issued decrees appointing new officials to fill the vacant positions. Nama Edward Bokolo was appointed Minister of Health, Abel Sudan Minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement, Patrick Riroyo Minister of Education, Samuel Simon Zigizu Minister of Livestock, Fisheries and Tourism, Gibson Bolin Wandi Minister of Housing, Land and Public Utilities, James Adu Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, and Mensah Dubuya Minister of Roads and Bridges.

The appointments also included Robert Raphael Ruate as head of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, and Elizabeth Songo Dabi as deputy head of the HIV/AIDS Commission.

The president also appointed four new commissioners to administer the counties of Yambio, Ezo, Mundri East and Tambora, as part of administrative changes aimed at enhancing the efficiency of local government in the state.

These changes come at a time when the Government of South Sudan continues to implement periodic changes at the local government level, as part of its efforts to improve executive performance, enhance service delivery to citizens, and support administrative stability in the states.

The presidential decrees did not include an explanation of the reasons that prompted these changes, nor did the government issue any additional statement regarding the nature of the tasks or priorities assigned to the new officials, merely announcing that the decisions would come into effect immediately upon their issuance.