South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has dismissed the head of the country’s General Intelligence Bureau (GIB) and replaced his presidential security advisor in a series of high-level reshuffles, state media reported on Wednesday.
Lieutenant General Simon Yien Makuac, who had served as GIB director general since April 2021, was removed from his post without explanation. He was replaced by General Thoi Chany Reat, Kiir’s advisor on national security affairs.
Gen. Thoi is from Ayod County in Jonglei State, while his predecessor, Gen. Yien, is from Uror County in the same state.
The changes, announced by the state-run South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC), took immediate effect.
The GIB, a key branch of the National Security Service (NSS), is responsible for gathering and analyzing intelligence on external security threats. Its director general holds one of the most senior roles in the country’s security hierarchy.
Since last October, Kiir has made frequent changes to intelligence leadership, a shift from past reshuffles that primarily targeted cabinet ministers and military officials.
Gen. Yien, who was not reassigned, had previously served as deputy commander for finance and administration in the Tiger Division before his 2021 appointment.
In a separate decree, Kiir appointed General Madut Dut Yel as his new presidential advisor on national security, replacing Gen. Thoi after just three months in the role.
Gen. Madut, a veteran intelligence officer from Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, served in Military Intelligence during South Sudan’s independence struggle and afterward.
Before his appointment, he was South Sudan’s defense attaché in Egypt. He also served as deputy governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State until his removal in 2013 by then-Governor General Paul Malong.
Kiir also replaced Kawaja Kau Madol as undersecretary of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, appointing Achir John Manyuot without providing a reason.