Warrap faces “power vacuum” as governor’s term expires
May 11, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s Warrap state is experiencing a power vacuum after the expiry on Sunday of governor Nyandeng Malek’s term in office, drawing uncertainty and calls for immediate action.
“There is nothing we can do at our level because there is no provision in our constitution that allows us to amend and extend the office of the governor,” Deng told Sudan Tribune on Monday.
“This is the issue which is left to the office of the president to decide”, he added.
Malek was elected governor in April 2010 and took oath of office on 10 May before the country’s independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011. Her term officially came to an end on 10 May 2015. However, no new mandate was given to her as elections initially scheduled for mid this year were cancelled due to the country’s ongoing conflict.
The national legislative assembly only amended the constitution to extend the term of office of the president and the legislature at all levels and structures, including the states, but did not include the tenure of governors. Other state assemblies also amended their constitutions and extended the governors’ terms, except Warrap.
Critics, however, say Malek’s presence as governor was “illegal” and “unconstitutional”.
Meanwhile, several observers have expressed concern over the prevailing political power vacuum and proposed that the leadership of the assembly takes over and run the affairs of the state until when the new governor is found to have taken over the state leadership.
Andrew Kuac, the acting head of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) branch office in the state told Sudan Tribune on Monday that governor Malek was no longer a legitimate leader, because her term in office ended on 10 May.
“She has no any authority now because her term has expired and the people of Warrap are calling on the state parliament to take charge while people come together to identify the new leadership to take the state forward”, stressed Kuac.
(ST)