Gen. Chol Thon Balok, Minister of Defences and Veteran Affairs - COURTESTY

President Salva Kiir has appointed Chol Thon Balok as the new Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs.

Kiir relieved and appointed the former Deputy Defense Minister through a Republican decree read on the state TV, SSBC Wednesday evening.

He has replaced his former boss Angelina Teny who was relieved early this month.

The head of state removed Angelina Teny from the defense ministry and swapped the position to his party on March 3, 2023.

He also fired the minister of interior, Mahmoud Solomon, and gave the post to the SPLM-IO causing a rift between the SPLM-IG and the SPLM-IO.

A meeting to resolve the dispute about three weeks ago never bore a result.

Recently, the Ethiopian Prime Ministry visited Juba where he met President Slava Kiir and his First Deputy Riek Machar without tangible outcome.