South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has fired the police chief as part of a move against security officials following reports of an attempted coup.
Leading security figures downplayed the coup rumours that emerged over the weekend when Mr Kiir was on an official visit to Riyadh for a summit.
A day later local media reported that 27 military and intelligence officials had been arrested.
Next year South Sudan is due to hold its first election since it gained independence in 2011.
A five year civil war ended in a peace deal in 2018 but the agreement is yet to be fully implemented and the country remains fragile.