South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has dismissed the foreign minister and the head of the country’s internal security bureau in a cabinet reshuffle announced on Wednesday night, according to a decree read on state television.
The decree read on state-owned South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) said Kiir removed Foreign Affairs Minister Monday Semaya Kumba and Gen. Mawien Mawien Ariik, Director General of the Internal Security Bureau (ISB) within the National Security Service.
Kiir appointed Ambassador James Pitia Morgan as the new foreign minister, replacing Kumba. Morgan previously held the same position from August 2023 to April 2024 and most recently served as presidential envoy for the Great Lakes region.
The president did not give reasons for Kumba’s dismissal. He was appointed foreign minister in April 2025. The reshuffle comes as Juba has recently signalled efforts to deepen diplomatic engagement with the United States, including on trade and investment in the mining sector.
In a separate decree, Kiir appointed Gen. Akec Tong Aleu as Director General of the Internal Security Bureau, replacing Mawien, who was appointed in December 2025. Aleu previously served as undersecretary in the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs and has held senior positions within the security apparatus, including a prior stint as ISB chief.
The president also dismissed several other senior officials, including Trade and Industry Minister Atong Kuol Manyang, Youth and Sports Minister Mary Nawai Martin, Lt. Gen. John Manut Wol, Deputy Director General of the ISB, and Gregory Deng Kuac, First Deputy Director General of the General Intelligence Bureau.
In the same set of decrees, Kiir appointed Dr. Labanya Margaret Mathya Ugila as Minister of Trade and Industry, while Atong Kuol Manyang was reassigned to the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Gen. Gregory Deng Kuac, who is the president’s brother-in-law, was appointed undersecretary in the Ministry of Defence, while Lt. Gen. Napoleon Adok Gai, former head of the National Communications Authority, was named Deputy Director General of the Internal Security Bureau.
South Sudanese policy analyst Boboya James Edimon told Radio Tamazuj the removal of the foreign minister reflected concerns over diplomatic performance.
“It appears the president was not convinced by the level of diplomatic input, especially during the recent engagements in Addis Ababa where tensions were high,” Edimon said.
He said the changes also pointed to wider governance and coordination challenges.
“These changes point to governance failures, lack of strategy and gaps in effective diplomacy within government institutions,” he said.
On the security reshuffle, Edimon said it may be aimed at tightening oversight.
“The restructuring in national security suggests an attempt to bring in loyal and experienced figures to strengthen oversight and manage sensitive information,” he said.
South Sudanese political observer Edmond Yakani said the new foreign minister faces the task of rebuilding international confidence in South Sudan.
“The big task is on the newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. He has to work on regaining lost trust and confidence in South Sudan among its international partners,” Yakani said.
He also called for reforms in the security sector to protect civic space.
“The new Director General of the Internal Security Bureau has to ensure respect for civic and political space as a key to winning public trust and confidence,” he said, citing alleged abuses by some security officers.
South Sudan is governed under a 2018 peace agreement, which has faced repeated delays in implementation.
Under the deal, the president retains the authority to appoint and dismiss senior government officials at both national and state levels.
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