President Salva Kiir Mayardit has dismissed the governor of Western Equatoria State and the deputy governor of Western Bahr el Ghazal State, according to a presidential decree announced on state television Monday evening.

Broadcast on the state-run South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation – SSBC, the decree relieved James Ateib Jaz Berapai of his role as governor of Western Equatoria. Ateib had been appointed to the position on August 6, 2025.

In the same decree, Zachariah Joseph Garang was removed as deputy governor of Western Bahr el Ghazal, a post he held since his appointment on December 30, 2020.

President Kiir named Badagbu Daniel Rimbasa, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) secretary for culture, information, and communication, as the new governor of Western Equatoria.

Notably, Rimbasa had previously served as deputy governor of Western Equatoria but was dismissed by Kiir in August 2025.

Chum Edward Dimo was appointed as the new deputy governor of Western Bahr el Ghazal.

No official reasons were provided for the dismissals or appointments.

All officials involved are members of the ruling SPLM party.

The changes occur against a backdrop of ongoing challenges in implementing the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), the power-sharing deal between President Kiir and suspended First Vice President Riek Machar.

Machar faces treason and related charges in Juba amid heightened political tensions and military clashes in parts of the country.

This latest reshuffle adds to a pattern of recent personnel changes in South Sudan’s leadership, reflecting efforts to consolidate control amid fragile peace efforts and security concerns.