N. Bahr el Ghazal state advisor takes oath

February 28, 2015 (JUBA) – A newly appointed advisor in South Sudan’s Northern Bahr el Ghazal state has taken an oath of office, reversing a previous decision which questioned her appointment following a parliamentary decision that saw the governor impeached.

Mary Ayat was last month appointed state advisor for education by the caretaker governor, Kuel Aguer Kuel, but never sworn in due to other commitments.

She took oath on Thursday during a function attended by the acting governor, Salva Chol Ayat, who called on the citizens to embrace peace, love, tolerance and unity.

Chol earlier declined to preside over the event and questioned Ayat’s appointment after parliament passed a vote of no confidence against the state caretaker governor.

But Ayat argued that her appointment was made before the impeachment by lawmakers.

“I was appointed before this situation and I could have been sworn in together with other colleagues but it was delayed due to other commitments,” she said on Wednesday.

Last month, a section of parliament impeached Kuel after accusing him of corruption and insubordination of senior party leadership in the state, allegations he denies.

In response the situation, South Sudanese president Salva Kiir formed a high-level investigation committee headed by former deputy speaker Daniel Awet Akot to look into the circumstances under which Kuel was impeached and assess whether constitutional procedures and processes were followed before action was taken.

The investigation committee is yet to present its findings to the president.

(ST)