N. Bahr el Ghazal minister of legal affairs leaves amid confusion
By Ngor Arol Garang
December 11, 2010 (ABYEI) – General Paul Malong Awan, Governor of the Southern State of Northern Bahr el Ghazal has decided to dismiss one of his cabinet members, Akuei Mawien, minister of legal affairs.
The gubernatorial dismissal backed up by South Sudan presidential decree back dated to Saturday 4 December, 2010, named Justice Madut Santino Deng Teng as new minister of legal affairs.
In an interview with Sudan Tribune on Thursday, Awan did not address the issue directly but said that those holding ministerial and other positions should allow ordinary members of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) – the south’s ruling party – to aspire to hold senior positions at various levels.
The governor said it does not make sense for ministers or officials who live in Juba and Khartoum to seek provincial executive committee positions when they do not ordinarily live in those areas.
“There are people who seek appointment but do not accept to stay where they are supposed to stay given the nature of their job title. They are creating lame excuses so that they travel out of their assigned duty stations,” said Governor Malong while thanking President Kiir for appointing new legal affairs minister.
The newly appointed minister of legal in Aweil town, Madut Santino Deng Teng, said in an interview yesterday that he will need the support of all members of Parliament, traditional leaders, the church, civil society and all the people of Northern Bahr el Ghazal to work effectively and enhance development.
In January the south will vote on whether it wishes to separate from the north and form its own nation as part of a 2005 peace deal ending over two decades of civil war.
“I understand challenges facing the whole south Sudan especially during period of referendum. These challenges should not be limited to one state. They should also be limited to individuals or party. They are challenges which should be addressed by everybody. As [an] institution, I will be seeking daily support from the members of parliament, civil society organizations, traditional leaders, religious leaders and indeed people of northern Bahr el Ghazal in general,” said Madut.
He also said his main challenge would be how to satisfy aspiration of his party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement and particularly the interest of the state government so that they do not get into misunderstanding as members of one party.
“I have a challenge to address. My main challenge will be to satisfy the SPLM vision and the need of the people of Northern Bahr el Ghazal in general and also interest of the state governor to ensure that the people of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State are adequately served,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Akuei Mawien, former minister of legal affairs accepted his dismissal and pledged to remain loyal to the state governor and the party. He thanked governor for appointing him to serve as first minister of legal affairs and pledged to go flat out to campaign for him in his constituency in next general elections.
“I promise that I will continue to be loyal to him and will remain one of his commanders in the field in next elections. I am appealing to our people and the governor to not misconstrue my request to leave this ministry,” said Akuei
The official said he was the one who personally decided to resign the position in consultation with the governor because he felt could not withstand the challenges of the job.
“I have no problem with state governor. It was my personal decision and I made the request to him. If there are people who think I resigned because of any problem with the governor and therefore need to use it for their own interest then they have to get it clear from me that it was my personal decision,” Akuei told Sudan Tribune from Juba.
However, Garang Kuol Aguer, an official from the government of south Sudan in Juba told Sudan Tribune that Mr. Akuei decided to resign because he got another well paid job with the South Sudan Anti-Corruption Commission.
“Akuei does not want to tell people the truth why he resigned. There are always reasons for resignations. Why he is not telling the people why he resigned instead of boring people with unconvincing explanations. He should tell the truth,” said Aguer.
He said he information that Akuei resigned from his position as state minister of legal affairs because he has been appointed Director General by South Sudan Anti-Corruption Commission.
“I know the reason why he resigned. I have the information that he has been appointed by the anti corruption commission as Director General and I even saw him driving a vehicle bearing logo belonging to South Sudan Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday,” said Aguer.
However, Akuei denies that he resigned because of the position he got with anti-corruption commission.
“I did not resign because of the position with anti corruption commission. This position is not a new position so that people should consider it as reason of my resignation. The reason as I have said earlier was personal decision not for this position. This position was given to me even before I was appointed minister in the state,” explained Akuei.
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Mike Mike
N. Bahr el Ghazal minister of legal affairs leaves amid confusion
Dear Aweilians, I think we already have the clue informations about the resignation of Mr.Akuei the Cabinet minister of legal affairs for NBEG state Aweil. Akuei was having right by the way to resign if things are not on going well with him in the current government of State. As per his statment he was very clear in his speech and i personally agreed to his request. Actually, he doesn,t have any problem with Governor paul Malong nor the community of Aweil only he was the one who decided before to accept the appointment and now he was the one again who decided to resigned from the post, that is his personal decision i think no one can oppose it or pursued him to not take such a decision. So one personal decision can be respected if there is what we called bill of expression in the Government of South Sudan though some narrow minded people took it wrong by saying that he was resign because he got a better job some where that is not true. The job he rejected now is quite too bigger than the job said by Garang Kuol. Garang might be having a problem with Akuei that should be the reason why he counter attack him otherwise he has no right to say other against Akuei’s interest because he is not working with in the State government.
Bol Deng
N. Bahr el Ghazal minister of legal affairs leaves amid confusion
The message is very clear that the previous minister of legal affairs- Akuei Mawien was holding two executive positions in the government. He was holding minister of affairs and the director of anti-corruption. Now, the logic says if you hold two exective positions respectively,the failure rate is always high than the success. I think General( governor) Malong Awan has right to let him leave the position so that the active person who can atleast perform the job effective. Moreover, mr Akuen has no right to hold two positions that he can not afford to handle;therefore, he should submitted his resigning. I totally agree that Akuen Mawien should be encouraged to resigned long time ago because he can not afford do the job of these two high level jobs. There should be no Question about this case. Thanks
marko malou
N. Bahr el Ghazal minister of legal affairs leaves amid confusion
Bravo Bravo Paul
We need an ordinary members of state who are willing to serve our beneficiaries.Malong is an elected Govevnor he should not be joke with!!!.
Manyieldit
N. Bahr el Ghazal minister of legal affairs leaves amid confusion
The removal of the minister is a good move for the development, but I’m not quiet happy with the appointment of the successor of the dismissed minister, simply because it comes from the President of GOSS which is not his work but the work of a Governor then approved by the council of ministers and the Parliament. So I urge the Governor to exercise his role and leave the president to deal with GOSS affairs and not the state.