South Sudan’s Vice-President Riek Machar, who is also the leader of the opposition SPLM-IO party, has rejected Gen Chol Thon Balok’s appointment as the country’s new defense minister.
The general is a member of President Salva Kiir’s party and will take over for Angelina Teny, Mr. Machar’s wife, who was fired a few weeks ago.
A peace agreement that ended five-year civil war divided cabinet positions between Mr. Kiir’s and Mr. Machar’s parties.
The SPLM-IO has urged Mr. Kiir to rescind Gen Thon’s appointment, arguing that the president should not make such unilateral decisions until the dispute with his deputy is resolved.
The developments jeopardize the fragile agreement signed in 2018 to pave the way for elections next year.
