N. Bahr el Ghazal split over impeachment of caretaker governor
January 26, 2015 (JUBA) – MPs in South Sudan’s Northern Bahr el Ghazal are sharply divided over attempts by a section of the house to remove caretaker governor Kuel Aguer Kuel from the office.
The move comes after Kuel, who was appointed in April 2014, announced he was suspending household tax.
Achak Thiep Thiep, head of the parliamentary committee responsible for information and communications, told Sudan Tribune on Monday that 34 members voted in favour of removing the governor, while just eight were opposed to the move.
However, the resolution of the impeachment, a copy of which was obtained by Sudan Tribune, shows only 19 members have signed the document, contradicting Thiep’s claims that the majority of members had voted for the governor’s removal.
Former state minister of parliamentary affairs Ernest Mangok Mangok Deng raised the motion, which was described by state MP Deng Nguac as “flimsy”.
He also accused the House of failing to follow correct procedures.
“They just framed flimsy charges against the governor. They brought up unfounded and baseless allegations, none of which carries a single truth. They are all made up allegations,” Nguac said in an interview with Sudan Tribune.
The charges levelled against the governor relate to a $1.5 million loan acquired without state legislative approval, defamation and abuse of elected members of parliament and other constitutional post holders at public events, public statements in favour of the country’s rebel faction and the appointment of 12 advisors in breach of the state constitution which limits the number of advisors.
Kuel is also accused of awarding letter of credit worth $3000,000 to his son and the state minister of public service without parliamentary and diverting operating funds of agencies for the months of November and December 2014 for the 2015 general elections campaign.
(ST)