South Sudan foreign minister fired months after taking office

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has fired his minister of foreign affairs after less than a year in power

A presidential decree that was read out on state television on Thursday night terminated James Pitia Morgan, who was appointed in August of last year.

Formerly serving as South Sudan’s ambassador to Ethiopia, Mr. Morgan held the position of foreign affairs minister.

Ramadan Abdallah Goch, his previous deputy, has taken his place.

Mr Morgan was designated as President Kiir’s envoy for the Great Lakes area.

Mayen Wol Dut, the longtime undersecretary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was also fired by Mr. Kiir and named as the new ambassador of South Sudan to China.

The most recent reorganization was announced without explanation.

Some speculate that it might be Mr. Kiir’s political ploy ahead of the December elections.

The foreign ministry’s first Muslim chief is Mr. Goch. (BBC)