Politics
South Sudan president dismisses long-serving security chief
NAIROBI (Reuters) – South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has dismissed the country’s long-serving intelligence chief, replacing him with a close ally, state broadcaster SSBC reported, citing a presidential decree.
The dismissal of Akol Koor Kuc, who had headed the controversial internal security bureau of the National Security Service (NSS) since the country’s independence from Sudan in 2011, came weeks after the transitional government announced yet another election delay.
Last month Kiir’s office announced an extension of the transitional period by two years and postponed elections for a second time following a delay in 2022, drawing criticism from the United States and other international guarantors of the country’s peace process.
Calls to the government spokesperson and the office of the president were not answered.
Rights groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have long warned that the secretive NSS commands excessive power in the country, operating with impunity against civil society and activists who challenge the government.
Analsyts say the decision to sack the intelligence chief, announced late on Wednesday, reflects a power struggle at the highest levels of the government.
“There’s been a lot of reckoning in terms of what to do with Akol Koor. The president doesn’t want very rapid decisions to cause a problem with national security,” policy and security analyst Boboya James told Reuters.
“Now, with the extension of the peace agreement, he would want to consolidate power by beginning to bring loyalists” into government, James said.
The new intelligence chief, Akec Tong Aleu, is a close ally of Kiir.
South Sudan ended five years of civil war in 2018, but disagreements between Kiir and his deputy Riek Machar – who led the opposing sides in the conflict – have been major obstacles to completing the peace process.
(Writing by Ammu Kannampilly, Editing by Angus MacSwan)
Politics
Breaking: Diri Orders Autopsy on Bayelsa Deputy Governor’s Death, Warns Against Politicisation
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of death of the state’s Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
Governor Diri gave the directive on Saturday while receiving former President Goodluck Jonathan at the Government House in Yenagoa.
Reacting to the incident, the governor condemned what he described as widespread misinformation and speculation on social media, warning against any attempt to politicise the deputy governor’s death.
“I want to make an appeal. I have seen people politicise his death. In Ijaw land, there is no enmity in death. Let nobody politicise the passing of our dearly beloved deputy governor,” Diri said.
“If anyone truly loves him, this is the time to show it. I have directed that an autopsy be carried out to reveal the cause of his death. There is a lot of nonsense going on on social media.”
The governor further urged the public to focus on mourning and honouring the late deputy governor, noting that the state government had declared three working days of mourning in his honour.
“If anyone is issuing statements to eulogise him, let it end there. Let us mourn him because Bayelsa State is in a mourning mood,” he added.
Governor Diri also called for unity and love among the people, reminding them of the inevitability of death.
Speaking during the condolence visit, former President Goodluck Jonathan described the late Ewhrudjakpo as a committed and dedicated individual who played a key role in the activities of his foundation.
“For me, he was someone my foundation and I will never forget. He represented the governor in all our programs,” Jonathan said, adding that Ewhrudjakpo worked tirelessly in that role, even more than when he served as deputy governor.
The founder of Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo, has said he will never take part in partisan politics, not for even billions of naira.
He stated that no amount of money, including “$1 billion,” (1.4 Trillion naira) would make him join politics.
Oyedepo made this known during an impartation service at Shiloh 2025 held at the church’s headquarters in Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State.
He explained that partisan politics is not part of his life’s calling and that is why he has chosen to stay away from it.
In his words: “In 2015, I warned the church that trouble was coming. Didn’t trouble come?
“Partisan politics is off my calling. If you give me $1 billion to join politics, I won’t, because it is off my course.”
The bishop also said the world is in urgent need of God’s intervention because of the times we are living in.
According to him, believers are being trained as an end-time army to bring solutions to national and global problems, similar to what biblical figures like Joseph and Daniel did.
President Bola Tinubu congratulates Chief Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on his birthday, December 13.
President Tinubu celebrates with the Minister and former governor of Rivers State, giving thanks to God Almighty for enriching him with a life defined by purpose, service, and courage.
The President describes Chief Wike as an audacious top performer who defies obstacles and delivers results.
President Tinubu acknowledges the ongoing transformation of the Federal Capital Territory through infrastructure expansion, highlighting the Minister’s recent intervention that broke the 14-year logjam in the construction of the Apo-Karshi road.
The President commends Chief Wike for his resilience, can-do attitude, and commitment to excellence in all assignments.
President Tinubu thanks the Minister for his consistent efforts in delivering results and wishes him a happy birthday and strength to further his good work in the FCT.
“Nyesom Wike has been one of the shining stars in the cabinet, an exceptional performer, developing infrastructure in the Federal capital as never seen before and proving that his moniker as ‘Mr Project’ is not limited to his home state of Rivers.
“I commend him for being one of the champions of our Renewed Hope Agenda, even though he belongs to another party and wish him well as he marks another year in his life journey”.
Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information and Strategy)
December 13, 2025
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