Juba, South Sudan – South Sudan’s Cabinet has appointed Vice President Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior to temporarily assume the responsibilities of the Governance Cluster previously chaired by suspended First Vice President Riek Machar.
The move comes amid Machar’s ongoing trial on charges including treason, murder, and crimes against humanity.
The decision was made during an extraordinary cabinet meeting chaired by President Salva Kiir on December 23, 2025. Nyandeng, who also heads the Gender and Youth Cluster, will oversee key reforms, including constitutional processes, rule of law initiatives, and preparations for national elections.
A statement from the Presidency emphasized that the appointment is an administrative measure to ensure continuity. “Vice President Nyandeng will handle accumulated files and ongoing work within the Governance Cluster. This is temporary and does not alter the executive hierarchy,” the statement read.
Machar, leader of the SPLM-IO opposition, has been suspended since September 2025 and under house arrest since March 2025 following a militia attack in Nasir. His suspension and trial have left a leadership gap in the Governance Cluster, which plays a critical role under the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement.
Nyandeng, widow of late liberation leader John Garang and representative of the Former Detainees group, was described as the “next in ranking” vice president qualified to manage the cluster’s responsibilities during Machar’s absence.
The move has drawn cautious reactions from Machar’s allies, who have expressed concern over potential violations of the peace agreement, which links the First Vice President position to SPLM-IO nomination. Approval from the Revitalized Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) remains pending.
Radio Tamazuj, Sudans Post, and Eye Radio have reported the development amid ongoing tensions in the transitional government, with observers noting the importance of Nyandeng’s appointment in preventing government paralysis ahead of crucial reforms and elections.
