President Salva Kiir at the state house J1, on Wednesday. (Photo: Office of the President).

President Salva Kiir has relieved the governor of Upper Nile State and some senior members of SPLM-IO in several states in a series of Presidential decrees Thursday evening.

In the first decree read on the state-own TV,  SSBC ,  Kiir removed governor Budhok Ayang Kur and appointed James Odhok as the new governor of Upper Nile state.

Budhok was appointed in January about this time in 2021.

His appointment then had brought an end to a long deadlock between President Kiir and his first deputy Dr. Riek Machar over a nominee for the gubernatorial post.

Following his installation, President Salva Kiir tasked him to restore security and peace in the oil-rich, but war-ravaged state.

But the restive region continued to be the most volatile in the country mired in inter-communal violence in recent months.

Budhok’s successor was the Chairperson of SPLM-IO National Committee for Culture, Youth and Sports in the Upper Nile State.

In another decree, Kiir relieved Yoane  Jek Guop, Unity State Advisor on Gender, Child, and Social Welfare, but without a replacement.

In the same state, Kiir relieved James Tunguar, the Minister of Animal Resources, Fisheries, and Tourism; James Gatluak Wichar Nyak who was Ruknona County Commissioner and Charles Wal, Unity State Anti-Corruption Commissioner.

President Kiir then appointed Lony Majier as Unity State Minister of Animal Resources, Fisheries, and Tourism.

He also replaced Gatluak Wichar Nyak with Dhol Khoriom Liling as the new Rukona County Commissioner, and Kuo Majok in the place of Charles  Wal, Unity State Anti-Corruption Commissioner.

Kiir went on to appoint Bol Akot Agok in the place of Andrew Achieng who had resigned as the Commissioner of Yirol County in Lakes States.

Still, in Lakes, Kiir relieved Majur Deng, the state Employee Justice  Chamber Chairperson and replaced him with Lino Kum Ngor.

Two members of SPLM-IO, Jesus Deng Atem and Jok Alor  Assembly who represented Jonglei State and Abyei Administrative Area in the  Revitalized Transitional National Legislative respectively had their seats revoked.

They have been replaced by Angok Bol Deng and Amin Kiir Del accordingly.

The Thursday evening decree also saw two Eastern Equatoria State SPLM-IO MPs, Karlo Peter Lolip and John Lokale Lomodo lose their seats. They were replaced by Barnabas Loleng Lotumo and Joel Nanok Nanakuru respectively.

Meanwhile, two other officials, Hilary Claudio Musa, Western Bahr el Ghazal State’s Peace, and Security Advisor, and MP Marko Peter at the state assembly have also been affected.

Eye Radio is yet to confirm their replacements.