Juba South Sudan (Agencies): July 8, 2025 — South Sudanese President Salva Kiir has abruptly dismissed Chief of Defense Forces Paul Nang Majok after just seven months in the role, according to an announcement aired late Monday on state radio. The government offered no explanation for the decision, which comes amid escalating tensions and fragile peace in the country.
Majok had led the army since December, overseeing military operations during renewed clashes with the White Army, an ethnic militia composed primarily of Nuer youths. The militia’s confrontation with government forces in the northeastern town of Nasir earlier this year contributed to a spike in instability.
President Kiir appointed Dau Aturjong as the new Chief of Defense Forces, though details about Aturjong’s mandate remain sparse. The army’s spokesperson, Lul Ruai Koang, downplayed the lack of explanation, noting it was customary in South Sudan for appointments and dismissals to proceed without public reasoning.
South Sudan has technically been at peace since a 2018 agreement ended a brutal five-year civil war, but inter-communal violence and political unrest continue to threaten national stability. In March, First Vice President Riek Machar was placed under house arrest, sparking fears of a return to open conflict.
The government accused Machar of inciting rebellion to derail national elections. His party denied links to the White Army, despite the group’s military clashes with national forces and a brief occupation of Nasir—later retaken by the army in May.
The leadership shake-up underscores the volatility in Juba’s political and military circles as South Sudan inches toward its long-delayed elections.