Kiir questions legitimacy of “unilateral” actions of some state governors

November 18, 2013 (JUBA) – South Sudan President Salva Kiir has questioned the legitimacy of unilateral actions taken by some state governors who have ignored their state legislatures and thereby violating the country’s constitution.

The parliaments of Lakes and Warrap states have recently protested against unilateral actions by their governors, including bypassing relevant institutions from approving their cabinets, allegedly on grounds that some of their close allies in the government might be rejected if found on the list by lawmakers.

Lakes state’s caretaker Governor Matur Chut Dhuol and Warrap’s Nyandeng Malek in October swore their cabinets into office without approval from the state parliaments, sparking political protest and accusations that they had contravened the violated the constitution.

Kiir spoke out against the actions of some governors while speaking at an occasion in which he inaugurated into official use a new building at the headquarters of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in Juba on Friday.

The president, who was addressing the gathering in his capacity as the chairman of the former-rebel-group-turned-ruling-party, told an audience predominantly members of his administration that they would need to exert extra efforts and work hard to elect party governors in the states.

“There are states where the governors are not the chairperson of Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM). These are the states where there are problems. We have seen this in Western Bahr el Ghazal, in Warrap, Lakes and previously in Unity. These governors take decisions without consulting SPLM institutions. What these governors are doing now is giving orders. You never know where they get their orders from, because they are independent from the SPLM structures,” asked president Kiir.

He pointed out the need for the SPLM leadership to work together to avoid a repeat of situations where the state governors is not also the state level chairperson of the party.

“So we should not repeat this mistake again, next time, we must reorganise ourselves. If you have elected the chairman of the party in that state all, you must work for that person to become the Governor.”

Kiir said his government is on track to hold national elections in 2015. There have been
reports that the first vote since South Sudan’s independence from Sudan in 2011 could be delayed due to financial issues.

South Sudanese voted in a referendum to seceded from Sudan as part of a 2005 peace deal and has subsequently acquired membership at United Nations and the African union as well as other international organisations.

In July 2012, the country signed the Geneva Convention but has been dogged with consistent accusations of arbitrary actions, constitutional violations, human right abuses, rape, allegations of rampant corruption and malpractices, sexual harassment and extortion of civil right activists.

Some prominent government critics, largely academics and political commentator, have been been forced to flee the country or operate anonymously to avoid being identified by security operatives.

Journalists often run into misunderstandings with government agents and politicians aggrieved by their activities.

(ST)