N. Bahr el Ghazal denies looming cabinet resignation
September 18, 2014 (JUBA) – Authorities in South Sudan’s Northern Bahr el Ghazal state have dismissed reports that a number of its cabinet ministers wanted to resign due to existing political differences with the caretaker governor, Kuel Aguer Kuel.
“This is not true. The governor is working with everybody. I have never seen such a thing, working in isolation of some of the cabinet members,” Mawien said Thursday.
He described the working relations between the governor and his cabinet as normal.
Jel Mangok, the Aweil South county commissioner said he was not part of the group threatening to quit the government due to poor working relations with the governor.
“We are a system and there is a way in which we address our issues, if there is anything. So far, I have no problem with my governor. If it is the issue of change, it is something normal in any system”, Mangok told Sudan TribuneThursday.
FEAR OF CHANGES
Angok Achuol, member of the state parliament, said the behaviours of some of the ministers showed they were afraid of changes likely to be made by the governor.
“For me, I have nothing to say in this because in any system people come and go. It should not be a big problem. If the governor wants to make changes, well and good, let him go ahead with his plan and decision. He should be supported instead of sabotaging his plan because some people feel they will be affected. That is how the system of government works world over. What is happening is just fear”, he said.
According to the lawmaker, reports were awash that some ministers had orally submitted their resignations from the state government, without any official declaration.
“I am told the minister of parliamentary affairs called the speaker of the state assembly today to tell her that he has resigned. The same thing is said of the town mayor. This is what I hear. They are not confirmed reports because any resignation is made in writing. It is never verbal. So far ,I have not seen any written resignation,” said Achuol.
So, all these talks of resignations are just fear of changes. Those who think they will be affected are the ones talking”, he stressed.
Garang Wol Kon Amoi, the head of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement Youth League in the state said he was surprised to learn that some ministers threatened resignation as “a tool to deter” the governor from making changes in the state cabinet.
“I think these people should have waited to see whether they would be affected by the changes or not. If these changes affect some of the ministers, then it is something normal because even before they came there were people and they went without making threats. Making changes should not be a big problem,” said Amoi.
“Also we agreed as SPLM that there should be changes,” added the youth leader, who also hinted on having unsuccessfully attempted to persuade the group not to leave.
William Wel, a state lawmaker from Aweil North County, said the dissenters should have been removed at the time they were deemed to have underperformed after the 2010 elections.
“The governor should go ahead with his plan to make reshuffle and let us see what will happen. Why didn’t they threaten to resign during Gen. Paul Malong’s time?” he asked.
Wel claimed those intending to resign were people with unknown military backgrounds.
“I don’t know anybody among them with military background. What I know is that majority of them were in refugee camps during the war with Sudan. They were not soldiers. Refugee camps are opened for humanitarian purposes. They are not military camps for them to claim to be officers,” the lawmaker told Sudan Tribune.
Deng Nguac, a MP from Aweil West county, said those intending to quit government should appreciate the time spent in leadership, despite public outcry regarding their performances.
“They have been holding meetings. Even today [Thursday] they held a meeting at grand hotel. This is part of their activities. Last week, they boycotted council of ministers. Five of them did not attend until the council was postponed. This has paralysed activities of the government”, he explained.
Tong Deng Anei, the minister of health who was alleged to be part of the group, said he was surprised about the report claiming he had threatened to resign from cabinet.
“I think there is someone who wants to cause confusion. I am not part of this”, Anei told Sudan Tribune.
The health minister further said his personal relations with governor Kuel could not allow him to go public even if there were issues he wanted to raise with the latter.
“You know my relations with Kuel. I cannot do that. I cannot go out even if there are issues to raise with him”, Anei explained.
(ST)