Acting N. Bahr el Ghazal governor revokes distribution of vehicles
February 27, 2015(JUBA) – The acting governor of South Sudan’s Northern Bahr el Ghazal state, Salva Chol Ayat, issued an administrative order on Wednesday instructing the secretary-general to reposses all previously purchased and distributed vehicles to official beneficiaries.
In the order, Ayat gave a 24-hour ultimatum for the collection of the state vehicles.
“You are instructed to recollect them back and park in the state house compound until further notice. Commissioner of police and national security for follow up and feedback within 24 hours”, partly reads the order obtained by Sudan Tribune.
The reasons for ordering collection of the previously distributed vehicles was not explained, although multiple government officials attributed to directives originating from individuals involved in power struggles with caretaker governor Kuel Aguer Kuel.
A cabinet minister claimed he was informed by the acting governor that distribution of the vehicles should not have been done on Kuel’s directive given his illegitimate status.
“I was surprised by the order and how Choldit [Ayat] is becoming authoritative. But I know he is implementing directives originating from someone elsewhere. He was surely under pressure and wants to avoid losing his job because the person who directed him can work for his removal, and it can happen because he knows how he was appointed and by who,” the minister told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday.
Northern Bahr el Ghazal’s caretaker governor has been engaged in a power struggle with his predecessor, Paul Malong Awan, who remains the chairperson of the governing Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) branch office in the state even after his appointment to the position of chief of General staff of the government troops.
It was, however, Awan who appointed Ayat as the deputy governor of the border state.
Awan’s position as the SPLM chairperson, however, contravenes the 2008 defence white paper of South Sudan’s army (SPLA) and the general military doctrine, which prohibit participation of the active duty military and police figures in partisan politics.
(ST)