South Sudan Leadership Transition: Stephen Par Kuol Set to Be Named First Vice President

Juba, South Sudan – April 10, 2025 – A important meeting held today between President Salva Kiir Mayardit, Chairperson of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Government (SPLM-IG), and Stephen Par Kuol, a prominent figure within the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO), is poised to reshape South Sudan’s political landscape. During the closed-door session, sources indicate that President Kiir will formally announce Stephen Par Kuol as the new First Vice President of South Sudan, a move that has sparked intense speculation among political analysts.

This development follows weeks of internal upheaval within the SPLM-IO, particularly after the house arrest of its longtime leader, First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, on March 26, 2025. Kuol, who was named interim chairman of the SPLM-IO on April 9 amid a boycott by Machar loyalists, has emerged as a key player in this transition. Analysts view his prospective appointment as a strategic test by President Kiir and his allies to gauge public and political reactions—assessing whether the move will provoke unrest or acceptance.

According to observers, Kuol’s elevation could pave the way for a broader reshuffling of power. Should his installation proceed without significant turmoil, some speculate that Benjamin Bol Mel, a senior advisor and close ally of Kiir, might be next in line for a similar high-profile appointment. This phased approach, analysts suggest, is designed to consolidate control and silence dissent within both the SPLM-IG and SPLM-IO ranks. “The effort appears to be twofold: neutralize opposition voices resistant to this decree while framing the change as a necessary step for South Sudan’s progress,” noted one political commentator.

The strategy, however, is not without risks. The SPLM-IO’s armed wing, the SPLA-IO, remains largely loyal to Machar, and his detention has already strained the fragile 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS). Kuol’s alignment with Kiir has drawn accusations from exiled Deputy Chairperson Oyet Nathaniel Pierino of collusion to oust Machar, deepening factional divides.

Analysts caution that any misstep could reignite conflict in a nation still healing from a civil war that claimed nearly 400,000 lives between 2013 and 2018.Despite these tensions, some experts urge South Sudanese stakeholders to embrace the leadership shift as a potential stabilizing force. “The country cannot afford further bloodshed,” one analyst emphasized.

“Welcoming these changes, however imperfect, may be the pragmatic path to prevent additional loss of life.” Kuol, in his remarks yesterday, echoed a commitment to the 2018 peace deal and called for Machar’s release, signaling an intent to bridge divides—though skepticism persists among Machar’s base.As South Sudan braces for this announcement, the international community, including IGAD and the African Union, watches closely. Today’s decision could either mark a bold step toward unity or set the stage for renewed instability in Africa’s youngest nation.

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