February 8, 2013 (RUMBEK) – Lakes state’s military caretaker Governor Maj-Gen Matur Chut Dhuol has relieved two senior members of the state government on Friday evening without replacement.
Lakes state’s outgoing minister of information and communication, Charles Badiri Mayen, 18 January 2013 (Photo: ST)The two sacked officials were the minister for information and communication, Charles Badiri Mayen, and Mangar Matoc Machar, the commissioner of headquarters.
The military caretaker governor thanked both the outgoing minister and commissioner for their services to the people of Lakes state.
The decree did not indicate the reasons behind Dhuol’s decision but it comes only a day after the chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in Lakes state, Daniel Awet Akot, said that he would never forgive Mayen for his role in allegedly opposing his appointment of the party’s new state secretary-general.
Decree relieving of Lakes minister by the caretaker governor. (GoSS)Mayen had refused Akot permission to broadcast a statement about the reasons behind his decision to appoint Mabor Ater Dhuol as the new SPLM state secretary, the state chairperson said.
Akot said Thursday ahead of Mayen’s sacking: “I will forgive everyone who had objected [to] my decision to appoint [Mabor Ater Dhuol as SPLM state] secretary but I will not forgive that man, Charles Badiri Mayen, no matter whatsoever. If God come from heaven to earth, Charles deserves not to be forgiven.”
State government sources in Lakes state have predicted more changes to the administration in the coming days, with the caretaker governor expected to embark on wider consultations with members of various institutions and intellectuals from the area.
“I think this is the just the beginning. We are expecting more changes soon. The caretaker governor is more likely to conduct wider consultation with members of the various institutions first. I think he will consult members of parliament, [the] SPLM state secretariat, counties and, of course, he will also consult authorities in Juba before making major changes”, a government source told Sudan Tribune on Friday from Rumbek town, the capital of Lakes state.
The SPLM in Lakes state has faced several divisions since September when Ater’s appointment was announced. After over four months of argument Ater was finally sworn in this week in controversial circumstances, with many SPLM institutions and individuals boycotting the event.
Opponents of Ater say that his swearing in should not be recognised as the SPLM’s State Liberation Council did not vote to approve the appointment. Politicians within Lakes state have traded accusations with Juba-based politicians over the current insecurity in the state and the unrest within its administration.
Charles Badiri Mayen was appointed in May 2012 by former elected governor Chol Tong Mayay, who himself was sacked in January by South Sudan’s president Salva Kiir after 25 people were killed in fighting between clans of the Dinka tribe, which is the dominant ethnic group in the central state.
Since taking power Dhuol has made a number of controversial announcements, warning politicians he would close parliament should they continue to discuss politics and creating a secret detention centre for those arrested in connection with recent violence.
Suspects would only have access to a government-appointed attorney, Dhuol has said, adding that human rights officials and family members would not be allowed to visit those arrested.
Top of Dhuol’s agenda is restoring security. An arms registration process has been launched and a civilian disarmament campaign has been ordered by president Kiir.
Akot urged citizens in Lakes state to collaborate with their new military caretaker governor in order to bring peace, stability and unity to the people of Lakes state ahead of the 2015 general election.
State government sources said they expect more changes in the administration in the coming days as the caretaker governor embarks on wider consultations with members of various institutions and intellectuals from the area.
“I think this is the just the beginning. We are expecting more changes soon. The Caretaker governor is more likely to conduct wider consultation with members of the various institutions first. I think he will consult members of parliament, SPLM State Secretariat, counties and of course he will also consult authorities in Juba before making major changes”, a government source told Sudan Tribune on Friday from Rumbek town, capital of Lakes State.
(ST)
Decree relieving of Lakes minister by the caretaker governor. (GoSS)
