South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has, in an unexpected move, removed two governors and appointed new officials from the newly created states.

Kiir, in a decree read on the state-owned South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) on Monday night, sacked the Gogrial State Governor, Gregory Deng Kuac and his Fangak State counterpart, James Kok Ruei.

President Kiir, in a separate decree, appointed former Jonglei governor, John Kong Nyuon as the new governor of Fangak State, replacing James KoK Ruei.Victor Atem Atem  was also appointed as the new governor of Gogrial State, replacing Gregory Deng Kuac who is an in-law to President Kiir.