• South Sudan's President Salva Kiir dismissed Vice President Benjamin Bol Mel unexpectedly.
• Bol Mel had been viewed as a potential successor to Kiir but has faced corruption accusations.
• The dismissals come amid fears of renewed civil unrest and instability in South Sudan.

South Sudan President Salva Kiir has dismissed Vice President Benjamin Bol Mel, who was perceived as a potential successor to Kiir. This move also saw Bol Mel stripped of his military rank and his position in the National Security Service, marking a significant change in the country's leadership dynamics, according to Reuters and BBC.

Kiir's decree, announced on state television, did not provide an explanation for the firings, which also included the governor of the central bank and the head of the revenue authority, both believed to be close allies of Bol Mel. These changes occur against a backdrop of increasing political instability, with speculation about leadership succession growing amid fears of a potential return to civil war, according to BBC and Africanews.

Since his appointment in February, Bol Mel had been under U.S. sanctions due to allegations of corruption, including a recent U.N. report stating his affiliated companies received $1.7 billion for uncompleted road construction projects. He has consistently refrained from directly addressing these accusations, highlighting the contentious political atmosphere within the nation, according to Reuters and Africanews.

The political scene in South Sudan remains fraught with challenges, notably as Kiir's main rival, Riek Machar, has faced significant legal troubles, including charges of treason. This unrest follows the fragile power-sharing agreement that was established in 2018, illustrating the persistent tensions within the country's governance structures amid fears of escalating violence, according to BBC and Africanews.