Northern Bahr el Ghazal in brawl after suspension of several officials
May 5, 2015 (JUBA) – Several state government and party officials in South Sudan’s border state of Northern Bahr el Ghazal have been suspended from their positions, raising political tensions less than a month after president Salva Kiir sacked former caretaker governor, Kuel Aguer Kuel.
Deputy governor Salva Chol Ayat on Monday issued an order suspending secretary general of the state government, Kiir Yor Lual.
On Tuesday he issued other orders adding several officials on the list to be removed from service. Deputy Aweil town Mayor, Wol Mathok Diing, Garang Wol Kon and Gabriel Bol Dut are those officials whose services in the civil service have been suspended until such time when investigations are carried out over various charges.
Secretary general, Lual, has been suspended for “lack of cooperation in the work and disobedience” while youth leaders were accused of meddling in politics, allegedly in violation of administrative code of conducts and guiding rules of public service regulations for those serving in the civil service category.
Dut was accused of being “political activist” and Kon for “spreading false rumours in the communities” and also Diing for “spreading false allegations against the government.”
The two letters, dated 4 and 5 May 2015 , copies of which Sudan Tribune had obtained, cited no specific constitutional provision deemed to have been violated or as the source of the decision.
The order suspending the secretary general bore the signature of acting governor but appeared as caretaker governor, generating reactions inquisitive of when the latter became the caretaker governor.
Observers and critics note that presidential order which sacked the former caretaker governor, Kuel Aguer, only directed the deputy governor in the person of Salva Chol Ayat to take over the affairs of the state as acting governor.
The letter suspending the other officials in the persons of Wol Mathok Diing, deputy town mayor, Garang Wol Kon and Gabriel Bol Dut was signed by Clement Mayuat Upieu, acting secretary general.
Speaking in an interview with Sudan Tribune on Tuesday from Aweil town, capital of the state, Santo Garang Tong, former Aweil West county commissioner, claimed authorities in the area have abandoned the law and only act in the interest of the current army chief of general staff, Paul Malong Awan.
“There is no law in this state. People have refused the law. The law and the constitution they know is Paul Malong Awan, who is running the state through a remote control like a television and like a personal property,” charged Tong.
“Those he is using don’t know anybody in between and the proof is what they are doing now. Whatever they do has no reference in the constitution. They are working outside the law,” he said.
Paul Malong Awan, who is president Kiir’s close political ally, is the top boss of both the country’s army (SPLA) and the political party in his home state of Northern Bahr el Ghazal.
Gabriel Bol Dut, one of the victims, confirmed his suspension from both his positions in the government and in the party, accusing the acting governor to have declared a total political fight against supporters of the former governor.
“The acting governor is creating problems. He is creating division. He wants to turn our people against each other. He cannot unite us,” he said.
He recalled that his main task was to unite the citizens of the state, saying the acting governor had now resorted to divisions of the citizens, further accusing him of allegedly acting against the wishes of president Kiir.
Bona Baak, a youth leader from Ayai area in Aweil South county also condemned the decision of the acting governor and called on the president to take immediate action against the acting state leader.
“There are four things Salva Chot Ayat has done since he became the acting governor. First, he removed the office manager of the former caretaker governor. Second he moved to the residence of the governor and started to address himself as caretaker governor yet he has not been appointed to that position. The decree of the president directed him to take charge as the acting governor. That was why he was not sworn in before the president. He did not take oath of office because he was not appointed by the president. The third issue is that he ordered recollection of all the cars which were given to the ministers and other constitutional post holders and now as the fourth issue, he issued order suspending the secretary general of the state and several other officials. Where [does] he get the power,” he inquired.
Observers fear that the political rivalry in Northern Bahr el Ghazal may develop into strong dissent against those seen to be supporting the army chief of general staff in meddling in the state’s civil and public affairs, inducing insecurity fears.
(ST)