South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has dismissed the undersecretary at the Ministry of Petroleum, Chol Thon Abel, just one week after appointing him, and reinstated Deng Lual Wol to the position, state broadcaster SSBC reported. No reason was provided for the reshuffle.

The undersecretary is the ministry’s top administrative official, and a role that has gained added significance since Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chuol was detained in March and later charged with treason. Aligned with suspended First Vice President Riek Machar under the 2018 power-sharing arrangement, he is being tried before a special court in Juba.

Before his reinstatement, Deng Lual told Radio Tamazuj that Sudanese authorities had issued a warning that ongoing drone attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on oil infrastructure could threaten crude transit through Sudanese pipelines to Port Sudan.

“The Sudanese authorities have cautioned us that if these drone attacks continue, they may be compelled to shut down the pipeline for safety reasons,” he said.

Oil exports are critical to South Sudan’s economy, accounting for the vast majority of state revenue. Prolonged disruption would have significant fiscal and macroeconomic consequences.

The Ministry of Petroleum has faced continued administrative shifts as political tensions and security pressures intersect with operational concerns along the export corridor.

“The ministry has become a battleground for political influence,” policy analyst James Boboya Edmund told Radio Tamazuj, noting repeated reshuffles have complicated institutional continuity.

“With drone attacks threatening oil exports and the minister on trial, power struggles are affecting the ministry’s ability to function.”

He said senior-level turnover risks weakening governance frameworks and discouraging investor confidence.

Deng Lual, a mechanical engineer with more than 16 years’ industry experience, has previously held senior technical roles in pipelines, refining and storage operations. Chol Thon, a civil engineer, is a former managing director of Nile Petroleum Corporation (Nilepet) and former undersecretary at the petroleum ministry.

South Sudan has operated under a transitional unity government since independence in 2011. National elections have been postponed twice, and Machar remains suspended while facing treason charges alongside co-accused.