South Sudanese President, Salva Kiir
JUBA, Aug 21 (NNN-XINHUA) — South Sudanese President Salva Kiir sacked foreign minister Nhial Deng Nhial and replaced him with former gender, child and social welfare minister Awut Deng Achuil.
Nhial, who was Kiir’s chief negotiator during last year’s peace talks in Sudan, was appointed to the post in July 2018.
The South Sudanese leader also fired roads and bridges minster, Rebecca Joshua Okwaci and replaced her with Simon Mijok.
The decrees announced on state-owned radio, South Sudan Broadcasting Cooperation (SSBC) Monday evening gave no reason for the changes.
The cabinet reshuffle comes less than three months to the Nov 12 deadline for the formation of a new unity government as required by the 2018 peace agreement.
South Sudan descended into civil war in late 2013 and the conflict has created one of the fastest-growing refugee crises in the world.
The UN estimates that about four million South Sudanese have been displaced internally and externally. — NNN-XINHUA