South Sudan's president Salva Kiir has issued an order removing the head of immigration services police Lt Gen Augustino Maduot Parek.

Kiir replaced Maduot with Akec Majak Malong who was promoted from Maj Gen to Lt Gen.

No explanation was given for the removal of Maduot, who did not receive any new assignment.

Sources at the ministry of interior and presidency during a series of interviews on Thursday attributed the cause of the removal of Maduot from his position to plans to give another assignment in the SPLA, a state government, or elsewhere.

Correction: This report initially stated that Maduot is a relative of the former foreign affairs minister Barnaba Marial, which upon further inquiry appears not to be the case.