Jonglei governor may continue despite being appointed defence minister, says official

August 1, 2013 (BOR) – The governor of Jonglei state, Kuol Manyang Juuk, may not leave the position despite being appointed as South Sudan’s new defence minister in a recent reshuffle, according to a senior official in Bor.

Speaking to Sudan Tribune, Gabriel Gai Riam, who is acting as Jonglei governor while Juuk is in the capital Juba, said that it was possible his colleague could perform both positions simultaneously.

“The president would have relieved the governor, if the governor was seen not to be carrying his duties in the state. That is where the president can use his powers in the constitution. But credibly, governor Kuol is being requested and called within his constitutional mandate in the state”, said Gai.

Certain steps would be followed if the governor was to take up the new position, according to Gai.

“Whether he could leave [the state governorship] and join the national government, this would require certain steps to be taken. He will request the legislative assembly to resign from his position as the governor, and I think there will be no objection about it”, he said.

Citizens of Jonglei, who Sudan Tribune spoke to on Thursday, have mostly supported the new cabinet appointed by president Salva Kiir, but have urged him to install a new deputy.

Kiir sacked vice-president Riek Machar and the rest of his cabinet last month, restructuring South Sudan’s ministries so there is a smaller cabinet.

Women’s groups in Bor said president Kiir had failed to fulfill his promises of increasing women’s representation from 20% to 30%.

As the current number of women ministers did not reach 25%, the women’s groups have suggested that the position of vice-president should be given to a woman.

Many locals, including cattle keepers who have now starting composing songs praising the president for appointing Kuol, believe that he would be well placed to address Jonglei’s insecurity problems.

Before the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) with Khartoum, Kuol was a general in the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), the rebel movement that has since formed South Sudan’s national army.

Acting governor Gai, said that he supported the cabinet reshuffle and the decision to decrease the number of ministries to 17.

“This is in line of course with decentralization policy; small government at the top and to the states as well and down to the last level”, said Gai.

Gai expressed hope that a smaller government in Juba will mean less resources are wasted by the central government.

“People complained a lot about it, because 90% of the money as they said was used in Juba, congratulations to the president for having listened to people’s views and requests”, he said.

The commissioners of Akobo, Uror, Duk and Fangak counties wrote letters of appreciation to president Kiir, promising to stand behind in his government.

FULL LIST OF NEW CABINET MINISTERS

• Barnaba Marial Benjamin – Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
• Martin Elia Lomoro – Cabinet affairs
• Kuol Manyang Juuk – Defense and Veteran Affairs
• Telar Ring Deng – Justice
• To be appointed – Office of President
• Obuto Mamur Mete – Office of the President for National Security Service
• Aleu Ayeny Aleu- Interior and Wildlife Conservation
• Aggrey Tisa Sabuni– Finance, Commerce and Economic Planning
• Kuong Danhier Gatluak – Labor, Public Service and Human Resource Development
• Michael Makuei Lueth– Information, Broadcasting and Telecommunication and Postal Services
• Riek Gai Kok– Health
• Beda Machar Deng – Agriculture, Forestry, Tourism and Animal Resources, Cooperatives and Rural Development
• John Gai Yoh – Education, Science and Technology
• Jemma Nunu Kumba – Land, Housing and Physical Planning
• Abdalla Deng Nhial – Electricity, Dams, Irrigation and Water Resources
• Simon Majok Mijak – Transport, Roads and Bridges
• Stephen Dhieu Dau – Petroleum, Mining and Environment
• Ngor Kulang – Culture, Youth and Sport
• Awut Deng Acuil– Gender and Social Development

DEPUTY/ASSISTANT MINISTERS

• Paulino Wanawilla Unango – Justice
• Jadada Augustino Wani – Interior and Wildlife Conservation
• Mary Jarvas Yak – Finance, Commerce and Economic Planning
• Kengen Jakor- Finance, Commerce and Economic Planning
• Rebecca Joshua Okwaci – Information, Broadcasting, Telecommunications and Postal Services
• Nadia Arop Dudi – Agriculture, Forestry, Tourism and Animal Resources, Cooperatives and Rural Development
• Bol Makueng – Education, Science and Technology
• Deng Arop Kuol – Land, Housing and Physical Planning
• Martin Daku- Transport, Roads and Bridges
• Elizabeth James Bol – Petroleum, Mining and Environment

(ST)

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