Pibor MPs and ministers could lose their positions: official

May 21, 2014 (BOR) – The minister of information and communications in South Sudan’s Jonglei state has expressed fear that the greater Pibor members of the state assembly and the ministers serving in the Jonglei state government could lose their positions if an independent Greater Pibor Administrative Area receives approval from the Councils of States – the upper house of the South Sudanese parliament.

On an official visit to Juba, MP Jody Jonglei told Sudan Tribune that a number of MPs and ministers, and other civil servants serving in high positions in the state government might be asked to join the government of the new area in Pibor.

“I think the we will lose our positions in the state government. The position of the deputy governor which is now occupied by Baba Medan and the rest of the ministers including the MPs and others may join the new government, but I am not sure,” he said on the phone from Juba on Tuesday.

There a number of MPs and other holding key positions in the state. Jonglei state’s deputy governor and minister of information are all held by Murle ethnic tribesmen. Jonglei’s minister of finance is also from Pochalla county, which is part of greater Pibor.

The new peace deal between South Sudan government and the rebels leader, David Yau Yau allowed greater Pibor counties, an independent administrative area with a special status and a development fund to be managed directly by the presidency.

David Yau Yau first rebelled against the government four years ago, claiming an independent state for Jonglei’s southern Pibor and Pochalla countries.

Most of these areas are remote and have seen little benefit from the 2005 peace deal that ended decades or civil war or South Sudan’s independence in 2011.

The minister also said that peace would be the only chance for the state stop to criminal acts, including child abduction and cattle raiding.

“Cattle raiding and child abduction will be stopped, because [the new Pibor] administration will be closer to the people,” he said.

(ST)