South Sudanese President Salva Kiir has dismissed Interior Minister Angelina Teny, a senior opposition figure and the wife of detained First Vice President Riek Machar, in a move that critics say further weakens the 2018 peace agreement that ended the country’s five-year civil war. The dismissal was announced on 20 January 2026 without an official explanation from the presidency.
Teny, who also served as minister since a 2023 cabinet reshuffle and whose husband has been detained on treason charges related to violence in Upper Nile state, was replaced by Aleu Ayieny Aleu, a veteran loyalist who previously held the same portfolio. The switch reflects shifting power dynamics within the unity government, amid rising tensions and clashes in parts of the country.
Opposition leaders condemned the move, saying it undermines the already fragile power-sharing arrangement that was central to the 2018 peace deal, which designated the Interior Ministry to the opposition as part of broader governance commitments. Forces loyal to Machar, along with allied White Army fighters, recently made territorial gains in Jonglei state, heightening fears of renewed instability.
Analysts say the dismissal could further strain relations between rival factions and jeopardise efforts to fully implement key aspects of the peace process, including security sector reforms and the integration of forces. The situation has drawn concern from regional and international observers watching for signs of escalating conflict.
