President Salva Kiir has removed Interior Minister Angelina Teny from her post, marking a significant political shift in South Sudan’s already fragile unity government. Teny, a senior opposition figure and the wife of detained First Vice President Riek Machar, was dismissed on Monday evening, though no official reasons were provided.
She has been replaced by Aleu Ayieny Aleu, a veteran loyalist who previously served as interior minister from 2013 to 2015. The move undermines key elements of the 2018 peace agreement, which had allocated the Interior Ministry to the opposition under a power-sharing framework intended to stabilize the country after a five-year civil war.
The opposition has condemned Teny’s removal, accusing President Kiir of undermining the power-sharing arrangement.
Machar, who joined the unity government in 2020, remains in detention with several associates, facing treason charges linked to violence in Nasir, Upper Nile state. Meanwhile, forces loyal to Machar, including White Army fighters, have advanced in Jonglei state, capturing the strategic town of Pajut on the main road to Bor, the state capital. This has prompted the government to deploy reinforcements to secure Bor and prevent further escalation.
Recent clashes have also been reported in Unity, Upper Nile, and parts of Central and Eastern Equatoria, raising concerns among regional and international observers about the potential unraveling of the peace deal. Key provisions of the 2018 agreement, including security sector reforms and the unification of forces, remain largely unimplemented.
Teny had served as Interior Minister since March 2023 after a cabinet reshuffle, when Kiir assumed control of the Defense Ministry. She had largely been absent from her role since March 2025, following Machar’s house arrest, and reportedly had her electronic devices confiscated by security agents in June 2025.
Pal Mai Deng, spokesperson for the opposition, described the dismissal as “a clear sign of desperation”, reflecting a government under increasing pressure as the security situation deteriorates.
The developments signal growing instability in South Sudan and pose new challenges for the fragile unity government tasked with maintaining peace and rebuilding the nation.
