JUBA — President Salva Kiir has sacked his press secretary and chief administrator and appointed a new chief administrator, in major changes announced by a presidential decree on Tuesday.
The decree relieved Valentino Dhel Malueth of his position as Chief Administrator at the Ministry of Presidential Affairs and Ambassador David Amour Majur as Press Secretary in the Office of the President. No reasons were provided for the dismissals.
In the same announcement, Marik Nanga Marik was appointed as the new Chief Administrator of the Ministry of Presidential Affairs with immediate effect.
Marik previously served as Speaker of the Western Lakes State Legislative Assembly and later as Minister of Information in Lakes State. He has also represented Rumbek North County in the state legislature and has been actively involved in governance and security matters in the region.
Ambassador Majur was appointed press secretary in mid-February 2025, replacing Lily Martin Adhieu Manyiel, while Malueth assumed the role of chief administrator on November 4, 2025, succeeding Sebit Bullen Komonde.
The position of presidential press secretary remains vacant, with authorities stating that a replacement will be announced “in due course.”
A statement issued by Minister of Presidential Affairs Africano Mande Gedima, on behalf of President Kiir, expressed “profound gratitude” to the outgoing officials for their service to the nation.
No reason was provided for the removal of both officials but the decree comes after a glitch in which President Kiir appointed a deceased person to a new transitional mechanism role.
