South Sudan President Salva Kiir Fires Two High-ranking Officials From His Office Over ‘Ghost’ Appointment

South Sudan President Salva Kiir has fired two high-ranking officials from his office after a massive blunder saw him appoint a man who died five years ago to lead a critical national commission.

Last month, President Kiir announced the appointment of Steward Soroba Budia to chair the committee tasked with leading dialogue ahead of the country’s much-anticipated general elections scheduled for December this year.

However, the appointment quickly turned into a national embarrassment when local journalists revealed that Budia had actually passed away in 2021.

The revelation sparked a firestorm of ridicule on social media, with South Sudanese citizens mocking the presidency for failing to conduct basic background checks or verify if their appointees were still alive.

In a move to save face, Kiir has dismissed two senior staffers within his secretariat, accusing them of professional negligence and providing him with “misleading information” that led to the ghost appointment.

The incident has raised fresh concerns over the administrative efficiency of the President’s office as the country prepares for its first-ever elections since gaining independence in 2011.

While the President has moved to correct the record by relieving the aides of their duties, the “dead man’s appointment” continues to trend across East Africa as a symbol of administrative chaos.