Benjamin Bol Mel

Salva recently appointed his daughter Adut Salva Kiir as Senior Presidential Envoy on Special Programmes – a role previously held by Benjamin Bol Mel now Second Vice-President and Deputy Chair of the SPLM-IG (AC Vol 66 No 17 Salva's family values)...

The post was previously held by Benjamin Bol Mel – one of Salva's closest confidants and until recently widely seen as his most likely heir...

He is also expected to advocate for Benjamin Bol Mel a close ally of Kiir who was recently appointed one of South Sudan's vice-presidents...

The UAE's influence in South Sudan is believed to be represented by the new First Vice-President Benjamin Bol Mel who also serves as the First Deputy Chairman of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) and is believed to be the custodian of President Salva Kiir Mayardit's business interests (AC Vol 66 No 8 Ailing Salva ups the ante)...

At the same time Benjamin Bol Mel has been appointed one of the country's vice-presidents and more significantly as Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) First Deputy Chairperson in a clear power play by Kiir...

Some view it as a ploy to sideline Machar and advance Kiir's succession plans favouring Benjamin Bol Mel a key financial advisor and intermediary with the United Arab Emirates...