JUBA – The South Sudan Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs has relieved Sarah Peter Nyot Kok from her position as Counsel General, effective Wednesday evening, according to confirmation from her office.
Sarah Nyot Kok, a prominent lawyer with international experience, is the wife of Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel, who served as Vice President until his dramatic dismissal by President Salva Kiir in November 2025. Her removal marks the latest development in a series of purges targeting individuals associated with the former vice president.
Bol Mel, once seen as a rising figure and potential successor to Kiir, was abruptly relieved of his vice-presidential role, stripped of his position as First Deputy Chairman of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), demoted from general to private in the National Security Service (NSS), and dismissed from the service entirely. No official reason was provided for his ouster, though insiders pointed to tensions over oil revenue management and fears of his growing influence.
In the weeks leading up to Bol Mel’s fall, President Kiir systematically removed several of his allies from influential posts. These included key figures in national security, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Petroleum, and the Office of the President, as part of a broader reshuffle that reshaped economic and security clusters.
Sarah Nyot Kok assumed the Counsel General role earlier in 2025, following her husband’s appointment as vice president and head of the economic cluster. Her tenure was viewed by some as part of Bol Mel’s network consolidation within government institutions. The Justice Ministry’s decision to relieve her comes amid ongoing political realignments and efforts to consolidate power ahead of delayed elections.
The move has fueled speculation of continued fallout from Bol Mel’s removal, signaling a pattern of sidelining associates to curb potential rival factions. Neither the Ministry nor former officials have issued detailed explanations for the dismissal. Sarah Nyot Kok has not made public comments on the decision.
This development underscores the volatile nature of South Sudan’s transitional politics, where shifts in loyalty and influence continue to reshape the leadership landscape.
Sarah Nyot Kok, a prominent lawyer with international experience, is the wife of Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel, who served as Vice President until his dramatic dismissal by President Salva Kiir in November 2025. Her removal marks the latest development in a series of purges targeting individuals associated with the former vice president.
Bol Mel, once seen as a rising figure and potential successor to Kiir, was abruptly relieved of his vice-presidential role, stripped of his position as First Deputy Chairman of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), demoted from general to private in the National Security Service (NSS), and dismissed from the service entirely. No official reason was provided for his ouster, though insiders pointed to tensions over oil revenue management and fears of his growing influence.
In the weeks leading up to Bol Mel’s fall, President Kiir systematically removed several of his allies from influential posts. These included key figures in national security, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Petroleum, and the Office of the President, as part of a broader reshuffle that reshaped economic and security clusters.
Sarah Nyot Kok assumed the Counsel General role earlier in 2025, following her husband’s appointment as vice president and head of the economic cluster. Her tenure was viewed by some as part of Bol Mel’s network consolidation within government institutions. The Justice Ministry’s decision to relieve her comes amid ongoing political realignments and efforts to consolidate power ahead of delayed elections.
The move has fueled speculation of continued fallout from Bol Mel’s removal, signaling a pattern of sidelining associates to curb potential rival factions. Neither the Ministry nor former officials have issued detailed explanations for the dismissal. Sarah Nyot Kok has not made public comments on the decision.
This development underscores the volatile nature of South Sudan’s transitional politics, where shifts in loyalty and influence continue to reshape the leadership landscape.