BREAKING: Kiir Sacks Vice President Josephine Lagu, Reinstates Hussein Abdelbagi Akol in Fresh Political Shake-Up

H. E. Josephine Lagu Yanga, Former Vice President (Courtesy)

Juba, February 26, 2026

Savanna Radio News Desk

South Sudan’s political landscape has been jolted again tonight after President Salva Kiir Mayardit issued a fresh Presidential Decree removing Vice President Josephine Lagu Yanga and reinstating Hussein Abdelbagi Akol as Vice President, in a move critics say underscores his relentless recycling of the same political figures.

President Salva Kiir Mayardit has dismissed Vice President Josephine Lagu Yanga and reappointed Hussein Abdelbagi Akol, the current Minister of Agriculture, as Vice President in a new Republican Decree announced this evening in Juba. The decision has sparked immediate debate, with many South Sudanese accusing the presidency of merely rotating the same political elites instead of ushering in genuine change.

According to the decree, Josephine Lagu has been relieved of her duties with immediate effect, ending her relatively short tenure as one of the five vice presidents under the current power-sharing arrangement. Hussein Abdelbagi Akol, who had previously served as Vice President before being moved to the Ministry of Agriculture, has now been brought back to the same high office, signaling a full political U‑turn by the presidency. No official explanation has been given for Lagu’s removal or for Abdelbagi’s return. The abrupt change adds yet another layer to the pattern of frequent reshuffles that have come to characterize Kiir’s administration.

Political Recycling and Public Frustration

Analysts and ordinary citizens alike are already describing the move as yet another example of President Kiir “recycling” the same familiar faces in government instead of opening space for new leadership. For many South Sudanese, especially youth and reform advocates, this latest reshuffle reinforces the perception of a closed, elite political circle where a small group of leaders are repeatedly demoted, promoted, and reassigned, but never truly replaced.

Social media reactions began pouring in within minutes of the announcement, with commentators accusing the presidency of prioritizing loyalty and political calculations over competence, accountability, and service delivery. Critics warn that these constant rotations at the top risk undermining institutional stability and eroding public trust in the peace process and the promised transition towards elections.

Implications for Power-Sharing and Governance

The vice-presidential positions in South Sudan are a key pillar of the fragile power-sharing deal intended to stabilize the country. Any change at that level has implications for delicate political balances between parties and regions. With Abdelbagi’s reinstatement, questions are already emerging about:

• How the move will be received by Josephine Lagu’s political camp and allied parties.

• Whether the reshuffle reflects deeper internal tensions within the ruling coalition.

• The impact on service delivery and reforms in the sectors previously overseen by both Lagu and Abdelbagi.

Observers say that instead of signaling renewal, today’s decree appears to reaffirm President Kiir’s long-standing habit of managing crises and pressure by reshuffling positions among the same circle of trusted loyalists.

Voices from the Street

Early reactions gathered by Savanna Radio from citizens in Juba and the diaspora reveal a mix of anger, fatigue, and resignation:

• Some describe the move as “a political merry-go-round,” where leaders are simply moved from chair to chair.

• Others say they are “tired of decrees” and want real reforms, credible elections, and fresh leadership.

• A few supporters of the president defend the decision as his constitutional prerogative and argue that continuity with experienced figures is needed in such a fragile period.

What to Watch Next

Savanna Radio will be closely monitoring:

• Any official statement from the Presidency explaining the rationale behind the reshuffle.

• Reactions from Josephine Lagu, Hussein Abdelbagi, and their respective political blocs.

• Responses from peace partners, civil society, and the international community, especially regarding the broader implications for the peace roadmap and upcoming elections.

For now, one thing is clear: tonight’s Presidential Decree has once again exposed the deep frustration of a nation watching the same political actors revolve through the highest offices, while demands for genuine transformation remain largely unanswered.