Unity state swears in new cabinet, deputy governor

By Bonifacio Taban Kuich

August 12, 2013 (BENTIU) – South Sudan’s Unity state swore in a new cabinet composed of ten ministers, a deputy governor and seven advisors on Monday in the presence of caretaker governor Joseph Nguen Monytuel.

On Saturday Monytuel issued a decree appointing two more advisors, William Dawut Riak, who served as deputy governor from 2010 to 2011, as an economic affairs advisor and John Tap Malual, who was speaker of the Unity state parliament from 2005 to 2011, as an advisor for political affairs in the state.

Monytuel in his address to his new cabinet on Monday, urged them to promote “unity” among people of Unity state, emphasising that the state government belongs totally to civilians.

“If it was the issue of leaders that divide us, here are your sons and daughters that you recommend to work for you. Let [us] forget the past and begin everything from fresh”, added the caretaker governor.

Governor Monytuel said that his government had a responsibility to provide services for all citizens.

“This government does not belong to [the] elite, and I do not want to encourage the elite and my message should go to citizens. All citizens are my first priority to this government in the development of Unity state”, said Monytuel.

Monytuel called on his cabinet to work hand in hand with people and to ensure their actions are transparent.

Mary Paul Ngundeng, the newly appointed minister of social development in her address to colleagues after the swearing ceremony in the state secretariat, said the state had a long way to go considering the few roads, health services and access clean water in the oil-rich state.

Many Unity state citizens question whether they have seen the benefits of oil revenues that they were promised in the 2005 peace agreement that resulted in South Sudan’s independence in 2011.

Ngundeng urged her colleagues to work harder to improve conditions for people living in Unity state, which she described as horrible despite the SPLM governing South Sudan for the last eight years.

Sabina Marjela a 55-year-old resident from Bentiu town told Sudan Tribune that the new cabinet will satisfy people’s demands to build new roads, improve health services and provide good education for all citizens.

“I have nothing to says, all in all is pleasure of having a new faces in government to represent nine counties. Monytuel have been struggling for long, since 2005 but today he made it and we are happy he got the post of governorship in the state”, said Marjela.

Thomas Malow Kutey, a 35-year-old resident of Mayom county expressed hope that the new cabinet will bring change to Unity state.

“We had unrest insecurity along our common border with our neighbouring states which we hope will improve sooner through dialogue between each other”, he said.

He urged the new government to deliver clean water to people and to work closely with citizens to improve the agricultural sector and diversify the state economy.

Kai Theip Makuach, another resident from Unity state’s capital Bentiu, congratulated the caretaker governor for appointing his new government. Unity state citizens were awaiting him for a long time, he said, adding that Monytuel needs to listen to the needs of the people.

(ST)