S. Sudan’s Kiir broadens cabinet after size reduction

March 18, 2014 (JUBA) – South Sudan president Salva Kiir has opted for a larger cabinet, hardly a year after a reduction in the previous one saw him fire several officials, including his long-serving deputy, Riek Machar from the country’s ruling party (SPLM).

The president, according a statement broadcast by the state-owned SSTV on Monday, also reinstated some ministries and departments, previously incorporated into other institutions.

Some of the reinstated ministries included, Labour, Animal Resources, Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Wild Life Conservation and Tourism, Commerce, Trade and Industry.

The ministry for martyrs and veteran affairs was also created as a new government department.

Although no reasons were given for broadening the cabinet, the announcement sparked mixed reactions from the members of the general public, some of whom have asked reasons for reinstatements, while others quickly interpreted the new presidential action to mean response to demand seeking government of national unity and inclusiveness.

Should the new changes take effect, however, the number of full cabinet members would increase to around 57 from 31, including that of the president and his deputy.

LIST OF REINSTATED MINISTRIES

• Ministry of trade, industry and investment is separated from finance, commerce, investment and economic planning and industry separated from that of petroleum, mining and industry
• Ministry of labor separated from the labour, public service, and human resource development department
• Ministry of tourism and wildlife conservation crafted from the ministry of interior and wildlife conservation.
• Ministry of livestock and fisheries industy, now a separate department
• Humanitarian affairs and disaster management was separated from the ministry of gender, child and social welfare
• Ministry of veteran affairs has been separated from the ministry of fefense and veteran affairs

(ST)