JUBA, July 23 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan Vice-President Riek Machar has sacked mining minister Taban Deng Gai from the transitional unity government, deepening political crisis which was sparked by recent heavy fighting in Juba.
Machar's spokesman, James Gatdet Dak said Gai, one of the most powerful military generals, was relieved of his ministerial post immediately. However, Machar, who fled Juba last week, did not give reasons for the dismissal.
"First Vice-President Dr. Riek Machar has dismissed Taban Deng Gai from the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/SPLA (IO). He has also withdrawn and recalled him from minister of mining," Dak said in a brief statement received on Saturday.
Before his appointment to the cabinet, Gai was the chief negotiator for the Machar side during peace talks that were held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The sacking, which was communicated in a letter to President Salva Kiir on Friday, came hours after Gai reportedly resolved to replace Machar who has been missing from Juba in the past two weeks.
Machar has issued a directive all the members of his group and military commanders to cut off communication with Gai who had earlier reported to have accepted to assume the former rebel leader's responsibility as first vice-president in the unity government.
Machar said he would nominate a replacement minister as soon as he returns to Juba and once a third party force is deployed to the capital. Kiir is vehemently opposed to regional force.
"Machar will return to Juba once a third party force is deployed. President Salva Kiir's 48 hours ultimatum is unnecessary," Dak said.
President Kiir on Thursday gave Machar 48 hours to return to the country's capital Juba to continue work on implementation of the peace agreement they signed in August last year.
The former rebel leader left Juba on July 9 following five days of intense fighting that claimed lives of 272 people and displaced more than 30,000 others.
President Kiir has pledged his full commitment to ensuring Machar's security while in Juba, following the fighting that erupted between rival troops just as the two leaders were meeting on July 8.
