South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit has dismissed the Minister of Higher Education, Madut Biar Yel, and appointed Changkuoth Bichiok Reath as his replacement, according to a presidential decree issued on Monday night.

The decree, which was broadcast on the state-run South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC), officially removed Madut Biar Yel from his ministerial position and installed Changkuoth Bichiok Reath in the role.

In a separate decree, President Kiir appointed the outgoing minister, Madut Biar Yel, as Presidential Envoy for the Great Lakes Region — a position previously held by Foreign Affairs Minister James Pitia Morgan.

No reasons were provided for the ministerial change.

Madut Biar Yel was appointed Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology during a cabinet reshuffle in May 2025.

He is a member of the Former Detainees (FDs) group, one of the parties that signed the 2018 peace agreement, and has represented the FDs in the transitional government.

The new minister, Changkuoth Bichiok Reath, is affiliated with a faction of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) aligned with Vice President for the Services Cluster, Hussein Abdelbagi Akol.

This group is widely seen as being close to President Kiir’s ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).

Under the 2018 peace agreement, the president has the authority to appoint and dismiss national and state officials.

However, the agreement also stipulates that the president should obtain consent from the relevant political party before replacing officials allocated to that party — although such consultations have not always taken place.