Could the presidential decrees cause the downfall of Kiir’s government?

By Jwothab Othow

November 15, 2025

President Kiir’s government reshuffles appear designed to benefit him personally and solidify his grip on power. These moves also seem to favor his close circle of political allies and their families. While many South Sudanese celebrate these changes, it’s unclear if they understand who truly benefits from the president’s decrees and frequent government restructuring. Since independence in 2011, a sense of civic responsibility seems to have diminished. Some citizens celebrate Kiir’s actions without questioning who profits from them. Kiir’s strategy involves distributing wealth among elites. He has relied on presidential decrees and military intelligence to govern, leveraging the extensive executive powers granted to him in the transitional constitution. This has enabled him to govern South Sudan almost as a family dynasty. Kiir’s authoritarian style, reliance on decrees, and appointment of military figures to key positions has undermined institutional processes, transforming the country into an autocratic state.

President Kiir frequently uses presidential decrees and reshuffles to make constant changes to high-level positions, including the Vice President and military leaders. This strategy is more about maintaining control over competing factions and balancing loyalties than about a merit-based system that could benefit the country. Initially, SPLM leaders granted Kiir extensive executive powers in the transitional constitution, believing they would remain in power with him indefinitely. However, Kiir has since used these same powers to remove many of those SPLM leaders. Today, President Kiir governs South Sudan in a manner that resembles a family dynasty. He issues presidential decrees which bypassed parliamentary scrutiny, violating the transitional constitution and moving towards one-man rule. These decisions often involve only the Jieng Council of Elders and a small group of loyalty advisors, lacking transparency and public accountability. Furthermore, Kiir relies on military intelligence, often based on rumors from loyalists. This dependence on loyal advisors before issuing decrees and reshuffles, with rumors frequently linked to coups or power struggles, fuels fears of a return to civil war.

Another perspective on President Kiir’s frequent presidential decrees and government reshuffles is that he strategically uses them to subtly control and indirectly blackmail officials. By appointing and removing individuals, he prevents them from building independent power bases that could eventually challenge him. Sometimes, he retains his most loyal allies, while at other times, he betrays these loyalties if they become too powerful, fearing they might turn against him. For instance, the recent removal of Vice President Benjamin Bol Mel, when Kiir appointed Benjamin Bol Mel, it was arguably a test of public opinion, not necessarily with the intention of making Benjamin Bol Mel his successor. Many people misunderstand Kiir’s true motives. In reality, it appears President Kiir aims for a family member to succeed him. He has appointed his children to government positions, leading to accusations of nepotism and turning state institutions into a “family business.”

President Kiir has repeatedly stated that his frequent cabinet changes are an ongoing attempt to find the right people to tackle South Sudan’s dire economic and security issues. He’s explained, “I am looking for a solution. That’s why I bring someone in, then remove them and bring in someone else. It’s all part of the process. When I find the right person, I’ll stick with them. I’ll tell them, ‘You do the work.” However, a key question arises: if this is the goal, why does Kiir reappoint individuals who have previously failed in their roles? The extensive executive powers granted to President Kiir by South Sudan’s Transitional Constitution allow him to appoint and dismiss government officials, military leaders, and other key personnel via decree. These reshuffles, enacted by presidential decree, enable Kiir to maintain control over the government and the ruling SPLM party, preventing any single person from gaining enough power to challenge his leadership.

President Kiir is an unpredictable dictator known for appointing loyalists, only to betray them later. Those currently serving or slated to be appointed by President Kiir should heed the cautionary tale of Benjamin Bol Mel and General Akol Koor Kuc, the former head of South Sudan’s National Security Services (NSS), who was detained by Kiir this year. General Akol Koor Kuc, for instance, served as the spy chief since 2011. During his tenure as head of NSS, he was responsible for the deaths and detentions of hundreds of South Sudanese at the “Blue House” detention center. These actions were intended to protect Kiir’s power, yet ultimately, Kiir betrayed him.

Ultimately, these unexplained presidential decrees and reshuffles contribute to an autocratic style of governance, a lack of accountability and transparency, and increasing public frustration, potentially turning the population against Kiir’s regime. Presidential decrees and cabinet reshuffles might destabilize Kiir’s government. Right now, President Kiir’s authoritarian government is at a vulnerable point, struggling with economic hardship and high inflation. Despite appearances, the regime is fragile due to its inherent structural problems, prioritizing political control over competence, which makes it prone to collapse. History shows that many autocratic leaders have been ousted through internal shifts, often spearheaded by senior military figures or members of the ruling elite who genuinely care about the country and its people.

The President’s strategy of frequently appointing and dismissing allies, particularly those with strong military ties, seems designed to prevent them from becoming powerful enough to challenge him. We saw a similar situation with Sudan’s former intelligence chief, Salah Abdallah Gosh, who eventually turned on his own leader after being removed and then reinstated. In 2019, amidst widespread protests for democracy and economic reform, Gosh betrayed President Bashir. This same scenario — a betrayal by those in power, could lead to the downfall of President Kiir’s government. The author, Jwothab Othow, a South Sudanese citizen, is an activist and critic of authoritarian rule. May God bless the Republic of South Sudan and the people of South Sudan.