Kiir backs N. Bahr el Ghazal governor despite not following orders
March 26, 2013 (JUBA) – South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit has backed Northern Bahr el Ghazal’s Governor, Paul Malong Awan, after accusations and calls for him to be dismissed after he rejected the president’s directive to reinstate the speaker of the state parliament
The president, speaking at a meeting attended by Awan and the community leaders on Monday in the country’s capital Juba, said that saying the Northern Bahr el Ghazal governor is not the first official in the government to break his orders.
His comments will disappoint those who have called for Awan to be sacked over his decision to hand the issue over the Northern Bahr el Ghazal assembly for debate rather than implementing the Kiir’s order.
President Kiir praised governor Awan for his achievements, although he did not specify what they were.
“Malong is not the first official to break the law. He is not the first official to fail to implement directives from my office”, Kiir said pointing out the case of Madut Biar who is currently the minister of Communications and Postal Service.
Biar was the second SPLM official to serve as the governor Northern Bahr el Ghazal state during the six year interim period following the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement which ended over two decade of civil war between the SPLM and various Khartoum governments.
In 2011, as part of the CPA South Sudan seceded.
Biar appointed by Kiir in a 2007 presidential decree but was replaced in 2008 by Awan, who retained the Governorship in the 2010 general elections.
Although Biar and Awan have never criticised each other in public, their supporters often voice their support for one or the other at public gatherings.
Awan, a long time close ally of the president, has always come under sharp criticism over how he runs the state with many politicians accusing him of becoming an obstacle to the unity of the people and their leaders.
As well as the issue of the speaker Kiir’s recent directive asked Awan to reinstate six other members from the governing Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), who he sacked last year.
Some diplomats in Juba are known to refer to some South Sudan’s ten state governors as “state presidents” due to their autocratic style of governance.
Monday’s meeting was called following the conduct of the community conference in Juba during which many politicians expressed disappointment with how the governor relates with other politicians in the area and subsequently called for his removal.
Meanwhile Kuol Athian Mawien, a co-chair of the organising committee, avoided talking about the difference at the meeting with the president, saying in spite of the myriad of political differences, Northern Bahr el Ghazal would still remain peaceful and united State.
“We have potential of unity which South Sudan as a country would use it to benefit from it; especially the ordinary ones are already living together peacefully and harmoniously. We need to talk more on what unite us. We are all one and there is no difference,’’ he added.
Mawien, who was the former minister of finance, in his own view, said diversity is supposed to be source of strength not weakness.
“If we need to further build stronger, viable, veritable and united state, then we must endeavour to bequeath a more united South Sudan to even yet unborn future generations. Without peace and unity, there will be no meaningful development in the country,’’ said.
(ST)