South Sudan’s Kiir sacks Ruweng chief administrator

June 6, 2022 (JUBA)- South Sudan President Salva Kiir on Friday sacked the Ruweng chief administrator, Tiop Monyluak weeks after his appointment.

Kiir, in a presidential decree, read out on the state-owned television, appointed Stefano Wieu Mialek as the new Ruweng chief administrator.

Separately, the South Sudanese leader sacked Upper Nile State’s deputy governor, Dak Tap Chuol and replaced him with Ayong Awer Lual.

Although no reasons were given for the cancellation of appointments, multiple sources at the presidency cited “wrong picks from nominations”.

“There were many candidates who applied for appointments. Then the president picked from the lists of the candidates who were not the choice of their political constituencies and their appointments were not well received. The messages came back and as the president, he has to listen to the people because they are the people these officials who have been appointed will go and lead”, a source said Monday.

Santino Mawien Yel, an activist asked, “Who does the background checks of people who are appointed and then remove before taking office?”

He wondered whether what happened was not failure to be in control.

“Is this not the proof that the president is not in control?” further asked Yel.

John Fardol Aleku argued that manipulations were not new in the president’s office several incidents, including theft of money and recycling the same officials to public services, without clear explanation.

Observers attribute the cause to a lack of proper background checks and a lack of adequate consultations with constituents of political nominees.

President Kiir’s era has been marred by cancelations of appointments of several political, security and military leaders, causing tension and rifts.

(ST)