President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar shake hands after their meeting in Juba, South Sudan October 19, 2019 - Courtesy

The Reconstituted Joint and Monitoring and Evaluation Commission is encouraging consultation between President Kiir and his First Deputy Dr Riek Machar to resolve the sacking of the Defense Minister as soon as possible.

“R-JMEC welcomes the decision of the President and First Vice President to meet and discuss the issue of the removal of the Minister of Defense and Veteran Affairs, and the swapping of the two ministries,” said peace monitor Charles Tai

Last week, President Salva Kiir dismissed the Minister of Defense Angelina Teny and the Minister of Interior Mahmoud Solomon.

In a separate decree, Kiir also swapped the two ministries between  SPLM-IG and  SPLM-IO.

Angelina Teny, an SPLM-IO politician was appointed to the defense ministry in March 2022, a month after the unity government formation.

Meanwhile, General Mahmoud Solomon was appointed in November 2021, as minister of the Interior replacing Paul Mayom Akech.

Reacting to Kiir’s decrees, the main opposition party, SPLM-IO said the party was not consulted in the decision to replace Angelina Teny.

The press secretary in the office of first vice president Puok Both Baluang said the presidential decree was a violation of the peace agreement.

However, an expected meeting between President Kiir and Dr. Riek Machar has been postponed twice this week.

The principals’ meeting was meant to discuss the recent unilateral decrees and violations of the peace agreement.

In a statement issued Thursday, the peace monitoring body RJMEC says it welcomes the decision of the President and the First Vice President to meet and discuss the issue of the removal of the ministers.

Charles Tai, the chairperson of the peace monitoring body called on the parties to observe the letter and spirit of the 2018 peace deal.

“We urge the Parties to observe the letter and spirit of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS), which is founded on collaboration, consultation, and agreement between the parties.”

The peace body added that it is important that the crisis is resolved as soon as possible so that the peace agreement continues to be implemented in a timely manner.