24/07/2013 18:47
South Sudan president fires cabinet
South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit has dismissed Vice President Riek Machar Teny, along with all his cabinet ministers, Al Jazeera reported.
Kiir had issued a presidential decree on Tuesday which also removed all deputy ministers of the government, local media reported.
The move has been called a "reshuffle", and has been expected, but there have been no appointments to replace those dismissed.
The government is now being run by under-secretaries until further notice.
Kiir also reduced the number of ministries in his government from 29 to 18, though it was not yet clear which ministries had been cut, with no reasons provided for the changes.
Security forces had deployed on the streets of Juba, the capital, a common sight in the city, but all seemed calm, reported AFP.
Al Jazeera's Anna Cavell, reporting from Juba, said it was not yet clear what would happen. She said expatriates had been instructed to go home or to stay indoors.
Residents in Juba told AFP that there was concern at the suspensions, which follows earlier orders by Kiir in April to clip the powers of Machar.
"People are staying at home, and if people are out in town they are rushing back just in case there is trouble," said Richard Jok, a student.
Some reports pointed to the dismissal of 17 police officers as well, but this could not be immediately confirmed.