South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir, who doubles as the ruling party’s (SPLM) chairman, removed David Yau Yau as a member of the SPLM Liberation Council.

The National Liberation Council is the second highest level in the SPLM.

In a decree read on state-run South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation on Monday night, Kiir also revoked the appointment of David Yau Yau and Charles Welo as members of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly representing the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA).

The South Sudanese leader also revoked the appointment of Butrus Ochalla Ojulu as a member of the Legislative Council of the Pibor Administrative Area representing the SPLM Party in Pochalla North.

It remains unclear why President Kiir removed David Yau Yau from both the SPLM top organ and the national parliament just like the others who were relieved alongside him.

Yau Yau, a former rebel leader in the Pibor area who signed a peace deal with the government, joined the ruling party SPLM in the capital, Juba, in January 2016. He began his rebellion against Juba in 2010 after failing to win a seat in parliament in the Sudanese general elections.

His military wing, the Cobra Faction, was integrated into the South Sudan army, in accordance with the May 2014 peace agreement. The deal curved GPAA out of Jonglei State and made it a largely autonomous administrative unit.

 Yau Yau held various government positions after abandoning the rebellion, including becoming the chief administrator of the Greater Pibor Area and deputy minister of defense.