South Sudan’s Kiir appoints new Interior minister, deputy

September 26, 2023 (JUBA)- South Sudan President Salva Kiir on Tuesday appointed Angelina Teny as the new Interior minister, deputized by Marial Gumke.

The appointments were in a decree read on the state-owned television (SSBC).

Kiir, in March, sacked Teny from her Defence ministry role in a move widely criticized by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO).

Teny is the wife of the SPLM-IO leader and First Vice President, Riek Machar Teny.

Under the terms of the September 2018 peace deal, the Defense ministry belongs to the SPLM-IO while the Interior ministry was allocated to the ruling party (SPLM).

The armed opposition faction is yet to officially react to Angelina’s appointment.

In August last year, South Sudan’s leaders signed a two-year extension of the transitional government, in a move foreign partners warned as lacking legitimacy.

This was the second time the parties extended the country’s transitional period.

Machar said implementation of key provisions in the roadmap is behind schedule.

In July, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General in South Sudan, Nicholas Haysom said the young nation could still make significant strides towards this December 2024 target to hold elections with political will, adequate resourcing and commitment to create an appropriate political environment.

(ST)