President Salva Kiir has replaced Riek Machar with Taban Deng as the First Vice President of South Sudan.  

The move follows the decision of a faction of the SPLM-IO to elect Taban Deng as acting First Vice President of South Sudan. Through his spokesperson, Machar has called the process illegitimate.

The group of oppositon politicians who elected Deng insisted that the decision was temporary until Machar returns to Juba. Since fighting broke out two weeks ago in Juba, Machar has fled the capital, and Kiir ordered his return by Saturday night.

But on Monday night it appeared that the decision to replace Machar was permanent, according to a Presidential order obtained by Radio Tamazuj. Deng is expected to be sworn in at the presidential compound tomorrow morning.

More to come...