President Salva Kiir on Monday evening fired the head of the government-owned Nile Petroleum Company, which oversees South Sudan oil industry, amid an acute fuel crisis in Juba.

In his decree, Kiir did not explain whether he removed Managing Director Machar Aciek Ader for failing to manage the fuel crisis or for another reason.

According to the decree broadcast by the state-owned South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC), Kiir replaced Machar by Thelweng Mathiang Rok.

The outgoing official was appointed in November 2015. He had served as undersecretary of the ministry of petroleum and mining.

Photo: President Kiir (Radio Tamazuj)