In South Sudan, big chiefs have as short a life as a fruit fly; civilians’ pain persists

Over the past five years, Kiir has sacked at least 20 ministers, three army chiefs, two central bank governors, and more than 30 top officials.

Photo credit: Joseph Nyagah | Nation Media Group

If fruit flies were South Sudanese, they’d probably outlast most of the country’s top brass. In a nation born in 2011 after a brutal war for independence from Sudan, President Salva Kiir runs a government where jobs vanish faster than a fly’s lifespan.

Just this week, Kiir fired Army Chief Paul Nang Majok, who lasted all of seven months, replacing him with General Dau Aturjong. Back in December, it was Majok who had replaced Santino Deng Wol, another general shuffled out like a worn deck of cards.