Gen. Chol Thon Balok's appointment as the next defense minister has been rejected by vice-president of South Sudan and head of the opposition SPLM-IO party, Riek Machar.

The general, who is a member of President Salva Kiir's party, takes the position of Mr. Machar's wife Angelina Teny, who was fired a few weeks ago.

The parties of Mr. Kiir and Mr. Machar share cabinet positions under a peace agreement that put an end to a devastating five-year civil war.

The SPLM-IO has requested Mr. Kiir to withdraw Gen. Thon's appointment, arguing that the president shouldn't make such choices without consulting his deputy first.

The new developments pose a danger to the tenuous deal that was signed in 2018 and is meant to clear the way for elections the following year.