N. Bahr el Ghazal legislators disown new cabinet line up

April 25, 2015 (JUBA) – The leadership in South Sudan’s Northern Bahr el Ghazal state legislative assembly has dismissed a report, which claimed its parliamentarians had prepared a new state cabinet list.

“This is not true. It is a pure white lie. It is not the mandate of the assembly to form a cabinet. It is the mandate of the executive. The role of the assembly is only to vet the appointed cabinet members brought into the house in accordance with the legislative function as part of the oversight role. So that list is not correct. It is a forgery,” Angok Achuol Barjok, the head of the parliamentary committee for physical infrastructure, told Sudan Tribune on Saturday.

Barjok, who appears on the list as minister of culture, said it would not make sense for him to lobby ministerial appointment when he is already occupying a post equivalent to that of a minister.

“It will not make sense to lobby for a ministerial position while I am already in a position with the status of a minister. If I am asked, I will not take it. I will instead recommend someone from my constituency who is outside the government if my constituency is to be represented in the government,” he said.

According to the 16 April list, Ernest Dut Wol is the new caretaker governor with Ajok Wol Atak, wife of South Sudan’s army chief, Paul Malong, as the deputy caretaker governor.

Deng Deng Akuei appears on the list in the position of speaker for the state legislative assembly with Jok Aleu Jok as minister of cabinet affairs, while Deng Dhieu Nyiwel is listed as the minister for local government.

Also on the list is former governor Kuel Aguer Kuel’s younger brother as minister of finance with Kuac Wek Wol as new education minister.

Stephen Unguec Jongkoor was named as minister of physical infrastructure, while current speaker of the state legislative assembly, Isaac Makau Ayok, was named as the minister of parliamentary affairs.

In other appointments, Achak Thiep Thiep was listed as the minister of information, Josephina Nyibol Achor as the minister social development while Ernest Mangok Mangok Deng as the minister of public services and human resource development.

Others were Akoon Diing Angok (health), Diing Aher Ngong (trade and industry), Garang Kuot Kuot (water and irrigation), Lual Lual Ayok (animal resources and fisheries) and John Agany Deng (agriculture and forestry). Also on the list are Manut Yel Lual as head of the state revenue authority and James Jok Lual as the state secretary general.

Nearly a dozen of state advisors were also recommended on the circulated cabinet list. They include Aguer Wol (local government) Majang Ngor Kuany (political advisor), Akon Wol Deng (gender affairs), Kon Deng Chan (legal affairs) and Elizabeth Ajok Atak (social development).

A number of county commissioners were also on the list, including Awet Kiir Awet as commissioner for Aweil East, Jel Mangok as commissioner for Aweil South, Kuol Athuai Hal for Aweil North, Garang Ariath for Aweil West, Angelo Akech Akeen as commissioner at the headquarters, Stephen Ayaga Zubeir as commissioner for Aweil Central county and Andrew Lual Buola as mayor of Aweil municipality.

(ST)