South Sudan president dismisses four state governors
August 16, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudanese president Salva Kiir has issued a presidential decree on Sunday dismissing four elected governors of four states as he was leaving for the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, to hold face-to-face negotiations with his rival, former vice-president and leader of armed opposition faction, Riek Machar, to possibly sign a final peace agreement.
The four were elected in April 2010 elections before July 2011 independence of South Sudan together with the president. However, their terms of office were equally extended in May this year for three more years together with the president Kiir by the national legislature, which similarly extended its own mandate for the said duration until elections are conducted in 2018.
Salva Chol Ayat, acting caretaker governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal state was also relieved from his duties. President Kiir, according to the announcement, appointed Northern Bahr el Ghazal police commissioner, Akot Deng Akot as the new governor of the state.
Deputy Warrap state governor, Akec Tong was named the new governor to replace Nyandeng while deputy chief of general staff for moral orientation of the government forces, Lieutenant General Chol Thon was named the new governor of Upper Nile state, to replace the dismissed Kun Puoch.
It was not clear what prompted the president to dismiss the elected state top executives ahead of expected peace agreement, which has now left only two elected governors in place after eight elected ones have been dismissed by a presidential decree over time.
Governor Louis Lobong Lojore of Eastern Equatoria state and governor Rizik Zacharia Hassan of Western Bahr el Ghazal state are the only two governors left untouched.
President Kiir was given constitutional powers in the transitional constitution, 2011, to relieve state governors in cases of insecurity and threats to the national sovereignty of the country.
However, the constitution further stipulates that an election must be held in 60 days in the state where an elected governor has been relieved by a presidential decree. But since 2013 as no single state has ever held gubernatorial election per the constitutional provision after relief of governor.
The abrupt change came after president Kiir called the governors to Juba on Friday for a consultation with him on the peace process in Addis Ababa.
It was also reported that before the decrees were issued, governor of Western Equatoria state, Joseph Bangasi Bakosoro was detained at the Juba airport by security operatives on Friday who prevented him from returning to his home state capital, Yambio, indicating the governors were not initially informed of the imminent changes.
Government officials however downplayed possible internal rifts within the government’s camp following the unceremonious dismissal of some of the most powerful governors in the region whose president Kiir depended on for political and military support.
(ST)