Shakeup of government could point to the road to 2026

The recent shakeup of government positions made by President Salva Kiir late Monday surprised many netizens since some of the changes affected his close allies.

The road to 2026 could be clearly seen in these changes which saw Vice President James Wani Igga, a bush war hero and longtime confidant of Kiir removed from his position and transferred to serve as the Secretary General of the SPLM party.

Kiir seems to have one eye on the 2026 elections and also designing his succession plan, and this is well captured in the appointment of his other close confidant Bol Mel to replace James Wani Igga.

This appointment could be read as the crowning moment of Bol Mel, a willy operator and businessman who pulls the strings within the inner circle of the President.

As the extended transition begins, the parties in the transitional unity government should set out clear timelines of accomplishing the outstanding peace tasks in the peace agreement to avoid another extension of the transition.

They should also find solutions to fixing the ailing economy, as the treasury struggles to replenish the shrinking reserves. The stability of the economy and improved security are key determinants for any party that wishes to win elections when they are eventually held.