South Sudan President Salva Kiir has appointed Gen. Dau Aturjong Nyuol, a former opposition commander, as the new chief of the South Sudan Defense Forces (SSDF), replacing Gen. Paul Nang Majok after just seven months in the role. The move comes amid a flurry of high-level changes ahead of South Sudan’s highly anticipated general elections in December 2026.
The appointment of Gen. Aturjong signals a calculated shift by President Kiir toward consolidating military and political power ahead of elections, while also attempting to unify the country’s fractured security apparatus.
However, the abrupt dismissal of Majok who had been instrumental in integrating rival armed factions under the peace agreement raises new questions about the stability of South Sudan’s fragile transition.
On Monday evening, the South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) aired a presidential decree in which President Salva Kiir relieved Gen. Paul Nang Majok of his duties as army chief and named Gen. Dau Aturjong Nyuol as his successor. The reshuffle is part of a wider reorganization effort by Kiir, who is making key appointments to both civil and military institutions ahead of next year’s vote.
Gen. Aturjong’s appointment is particularly significant. Once a high-ranking officer in the SPLA-in-Opposition under First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, Aturjong returned to the government side after the 2015 peace agreement and has since maintained a relatively low public profile. His promotion to army chief now places a former opposition figure at the helm of South Sudan’s armed forces — a possible gesture of reconciliation or a strategic move to neutralize lingering opposition.
Observers say Aturjong’s background as both a former rebel leader and senior SPLA officer could play a vital role in the ongoing efforts to unify South Sudan’s splintered security forces. However, his appointment also reflects Kiir’s increasing reliance on loyalists from Bahr el Ghazal, his political stronghold, potentially deepening regional fault lines.
Gen. Paul Nang Majok, who took over the army in late 2024, had been overseeing the delicate process of merging various armed groups into a single national army a cornerstone of the revitalized peace agreement. His sudden removal without public explanation has led to speculation over internal disagreements, particularly regarding the pace and direction of security reforms.
In addition to the military changes, Kiir also reshuffled key civil positions. Michael Lopuke Lotyam was appointed head of the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority, replacing a long-serving administrator.
Gola Boyoi now assumes leadership of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, replacing Peter Guzulu Maze. Furthermore, Evans Kenyi Solomon has been brought on as a technical adviser to the Ministry of Agriculture yet another sign that Kiir is bolstering his administration with a mix of loyalists and technocrats.
The wave of appointments comes just weeks after President Kiir replaced former Vice President Dr. James Wani Igga as the Secretary General of the ruling SPLM party with veteran Central Equatorian politician Paul Lagole. Baba Medan Konyi was named Deputy Secretary General in charge of finance and administration, cementing the SPLM’s election machinery ahead of 2026.
As the country inches toward its first post-independence democratic election, these reshuffles are being closely watched. Analysts argue that while Kiir’s moves may strengthen his political grip, they also highlight the uncertainty surrounding South Sudan’s fragile peace and transition process.
Whether these changes will foster cohesion or deepen divisions in a nation still healing from years of conflict remains to be seen.
