South Sudan president delegates additional powers to his deputy

By James Gatdet Dak

JUBA (Sept. 6) – The President of the Government of Southern Sudan, General Salva Kiir Mayardit, has issued a Circular to all executive government institutions in Southern Sudan in which he delegated several additional functions to his Deputy, Dr. Riek Machar Teny.

According to President Kiir, he made the decision after taking into account the recent reshuffle in the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) in which the Vice President was stripped of his additional portfolio as the Minister of Housing, Land and Public Utilities.

The original copy of the Circular is hereby attached below.

Government of Southern Sudan
(GOSS)

Office of The President

Ref: Date: 30th July 2007
H.E. Dr. Riek Machar Teny
Vice President of Government of Southern Sudan
Juba.

Dear Dr. Riek,

Subject: Additional Functions for the Vice President of GOSS

With reference to the Provisions of Article 108(d) of the Interim Constitution of Southern Sudan and after taking into account the recent reshuffle in the Government of Southern Sudan in which the Vice President holds no other portfolio except the position of the Vice President, I am assigning the following functions and duties to the Vice President:

1. Supervising Southern Sudan national programmes such as Southern Sudan 5-Year Strategic Plan, Poverty Eradication Strategy and Government of Southern Sudan Annual Action Plans.

2. Supervising and monitoring the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

3. Supervising the conduct of the population census, general elections and referenda in Southern Sudan.

4. Supervising and coordinating Southern Sudan Disasters Management Strategy and Programmes.

5. Supervising the activities and work of the Presidential Advisors.

6. Coordinating and supervising the activities of the GOSS Commissions and other public independent institutions.

7. Supervising the JAM-MDTF programmes and projects and Sudan Donors Consortium.

8. Supervising the participation and representation of the people of Southern Sudan and their government in the national commissions, independent public institutions including national public civil service, public corporations and public companies.

9. Supervising and monitoring the implementation of all contracts entered into by the Government of Southern Sudan.

10. Any other function that I may assign to the Vice President.

Besides these additional functions and duties, the Vice President shall act as the President in my absence as per provisions of Article 108(a) of ICSS. I will be working closely with you in discharge of these duties. By delegating these additional functions and duties to you, I believe the performance of the Presidency will greatly improve.

Please accept the assurances of my highest consideration.

Signed,

Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit,
President of GoSS,
Juba.

Cc. GoSS Presidential Advisors
Cc. GoSS Ministers
Cc. GoSS Heads of Commissions and Independent Public Institutions
Cc. Governors of Southern Sudan states

NB: The official seal of the Office of The President and his signature, which appear in the original hard paper of the document, do not appear now in the attached re-typed document. I had no scanner to scan the original document, which would make it possible for its seal and signature to appear as they appear in the original hard paper.

*James Gatdet Dak is a Southern Sudanese journalist working for the Government media institutions in Juba, Southern Sudan*