SOUTH SUDAN: Kiir Removes Warrap Governor And Abyei Administrator Amid Instability

Debora Akur Chol, South Sudan

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has dismissed the governor of Warrap State, Gen. Francis Marial Abur, just four months after his appointment, according to state television on Tuesday.

No official reason was provided for Gen. Abur’s removal, who had been appointed in October 2024. He has been replaced by Magok Magok Deng, who will now take over as the governor of Warrap State.

This marks the fourth time in four months that President Kiir has appointed and then removed a governor for Warrap, the president’s home state. 

The previous governors include Kuol Muor Muor, ousted in October 2024, and Gen. Akol Koor Kuc, a former intelligence chief whose appointment was revoked before he could take office.

Warrap has been plagued by widespread intercommunal violence, revenge killings, and cattle raids, contributing to the region’s continued instability. 

Most recently, violent clashes between two communities in Tonj North County last week left nearly 11 people dead, further underscoring the volatile security situation.

In a separate decree, President Kiir dismissed Dr. Chol Deng Alak, the chief administrator of the Abyei Special Administrative Area, and replaced him with Justice Charles Abyei Jok. Dr. Chol, who had held the position since January 2023, had previously served in the role several times since 2017.

The Abyei region, which remains contested by both Sudan and South Sudan, holds a special administrative status, and its governance is overseen by officials appointed by South Sudan’s government in Juba.

In additional administrative reshuffles, Kiir relieved Santino Bol Montier of his duties as deputy chairperson of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, appointing Aguek Ring Mabil as his replacement. He also revoked the appointment of Korwel Kuai Korwel as the chairperson of the Council of National Bureau of Standards.

The frequent reshuffling of officials has raised concerns among policy analysts and some government figures, with many suggesting that it is disrupting public service delivery and hindering the implementation of key government strategies.

President Kiir has repeatedly used his constitutional power to appoint and dismiss senior officials, including ministers and undersecretaries, often only a few months into their tenure.

South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, is scheduled to hold elections in December 2026, where citizens will elect a new president, parliament members, and state representatives.

While Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar remain central to the fragile peace agreement signed in 2018, the implementation of the agreement continues to face significant challenges, including the unification of armed factions into a national army and the drafting of a permanent constitution.