Newly appointed Upper Nile speaker pledges to work for peace

November 8, 2021 (JUBA) – The speaker of South Sudan’s oil-producing state of Upper Nile has welcomed his appointment, pledging to work for peace, unity, and reconciliation of communities and politicians divided by war.

President Salva Kiir on Friday appointed Chuol Dep Kier as the speaker of Upper Nile from a list of nominees from the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Government (SPLM-IG)

Kier held a number of high-level assignments in Upper Nile and in the defunct Maiwut state when President Kiir divided the country in 2015 into smaller administrative units before reverting to 10 states in compliance with the provision of the 2018 peace agreement and pressure from the international community.

His deputy Pal Ruach is a nominee of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) under the leadership of the First Vice-President Riek Machar.

In a related development, President Kiir appointed Peter Wani Elia appointed as the Speaker of the Central Equatoria Legislative Assembly. He is affiliated with SPLM-IO deputized by Salam Al-Haj Baballah of South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA).

100 politicians representing various parties to the peace deal were also appointed.

For his part, Ayiin Amel Adior from SPLM under President Kiir was appointed the speak of Lakes state. But, his deputy was not appointed. The SPLM-IO is expected to make a nomination to the position in accordance with the power-sharing deal.

The remaining six other states of Eastern Equatoria, Warrap, Jonglei, Unity, Northern Bahr El-Ghazal, and Western Bahr El-Ghazal states are yet to be reconstituted.

The responsibility sharing ratio at state and local government levels shall be 55% for the SPLM; 27% for the SPLM/A-IO; 10% for SSOA, and 8% for OPP based on the responsibility-sharing arrangement stipulated in the 2018 revitalized peace agreement.

(ST)