Vice President of South Sudan facts for kids
The Vice President of South Sudan is a very important job, second only to the President of South Sudan. This person helps the President lead the country.
Over time, the role of Vice President in South Sudan has changed. Sometimes there was one Vice President, and sometimes there were more! In 2020, a special agreement created five Vice Presidents to help run the country.
Quick facts for kids First Vice President of theRepublic of South Sudan |
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Appointer | President of South Sudan |
Inaugural holder | Riek Machar |
Formation | 21 February 2020 |
Contents
Who Were the Vice Presidents Before 2020?
This section shows the people who served as Vice President in Southern Sudan (when it was part of Sudan) and then in the independent Republic of South Sudan until 2020.
Party Colors (to help you understand the political groups): Sudan People's Liberation Movement Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition South Sudan Opposition Alliance
Vice Presidents of Southern Sudan (2005–2011)
This list shows the Vice Presidents when Southern Sudan was an area with its own government, but still part of Sudan.
Picture | Name | Time in Office | Political Party | President | ||||
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Started | Ended | How Long | ||||||
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Salva Kiir Mayardit | 9 July 2005 | 30 July 2005 | 21 days | SPLM | John Garang | ||
No one in office (30 July – 11 August 2005) | Salva Kiir Mayardit | |||||||
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Riek Machar | 11 August 2005 | 9 July 2011 | 5 years, 332 days | SPLM |
Vice Presidents of the Republic of South Sudan (2011–2020)
This list shows the Vice Presidents after South Sudan became an independent country in 2011.
Picture | Name | Time in Office | Political Party | President | ||||
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Started | Ended | How Long | ||||||
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Riek Machar | 9 July 2011 | 23 July 2013 | 2 years, 14 days | SPLM | Salva Kiir Mayardit | ||
No one in office (23 July – 25 August 2013) | ||||||||
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James Wani Igga | 25 August 2013 | 21 February 2020 | 6 years, 180 days | SPLM |
First Vice Presidents (2016–2020)
In August 2015, a special agreement called the "Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan" (ARCSS) was signed. This agreement created a new role: the 'First Vice President'. This position was temporary and was meant to help bring peace during a difficult time.
Picture | Name | Time in Office | Political Party | President | ||||
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Started | Ended | How Long | ||||||
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Riek Machar | 26 April 2016 | 26 July 2016 | 91 days | SPLM-IO | Salva Kiir Mayardit | ||
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Taban Deng Gai | 26 July 2016 | 21 February 2020 | 3 years, 210 days | SPLM-IO (Juba group) |
South Sudan's Five Vice Presidents (Since 2020)
In February 2020, a new government was formed called the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU). This government decided to have five Vice Presidents to share the important work of leading the country. On February 10, 2025, two new Vice Presidents were appointed.
Role | Picture | Name | Time in Office | Political Party | President | ||||
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Started | Ended | How Long | |||||||
First | ![]() |
Riek Machar | 21 February 2020 | Incumbent | 5 years, 156 days | SPLM-IO | Salva Kiir Mayardit | ||
Second | ![]() |
James Wani Igga | 21 February 2020 | 10 February 2025 | 4 years, 355 days | SPLM | |||
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Benjamin Bol Mel | 10 February 2025 | Incumbent | 167 days | SPLM | ||||
Third | ![]() |
Taban Deng Gai | 21 February 2020 | Incumbent | 5 years, 156 days | SPLM-IO (Juba group) |
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Fourth | ![]() |
Rebecca Nyandeng Garang | 21 February 2020 | Incumbent | 5 years, 156 days | SPLM (Former Detainees group) |
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Fifth | ![]() |
Hussein Abdelbagi | 21 February 2020 | 10 February 2025 | 4 years, 355 days | SSOA | |||
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Josephine Lagu | 10 February 2025 | Incumbent | 167 days | SSOA |
Timeline of Vice Presidents
This timeline shows when each Vice President served in South Sudan.

More About South Sudan
- Politics of South Sudan
- History of South Sudan
- List of heads of state of South Sudan
See also
In Spanish: Vicepresidente de Sudán del Sur para niños