Mawien said Kiir had elevated Bol Mel from nothing to a position of power, but accused him of turning against the president who had helped him rise.
He warned those advocating for Bol Mel’s release to stop, saying they could also face imprisonment. Mawien added that the decision to release Bol Mel, forgive him or take him to court rested with President Kiir.
Bol Mel, the former vice-president for the Economic Cluster, was demoted to the rank of private and placed under house arrest in Juba on November 12, 2025.
There is no publicly available evidence confirming that Bol Mel attempted a coup. The government has also not publicly disclosed the reasons for his arrest, leaving it unclear what information Mawien relied on to make the claim.
Mawien made the remarks during a ceremony organised by the Noon Mayomdit Community to celebrate the release of Mrs Achan Agoth Akiech, who had been held in detention.
