S. Sudan army chief of staff welcomes appointment of new state governors

December 26, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s army chief, Paul Malong Awan has welcomed the appointment of the country’s new state governors, particularly congratulating army spokesperson, Col. Philip Aguer who takes over Jonglei state.

Awan, according to his aide, wished Colonel Aguer best of luck and assured him of his support whenever he needed support whether at personal level or in his capacity as the chief of general staff of the army.

“Comrade Philip Aguer is one of the best performing officers and that is why General Paul Malong, chief of general staff congratulated him and wished him the best of luck in his new role and assignment as the new governor of Jonglei state,” an officer in the office of South Sudan’s army chief said Saturday.

On Thursday, President Salva Kiir appointed relieved all the 10 state governors of their positions and appointed 28 officials for South Sudan’s newly-created states.

However, critics of the presidential establishment order creating and expanding the constitutionally recognised 10 states to 28 claim Awan has allegedly been working with the Jieng Council of elders and other government officials to undermine the implementation of the peace accord president Kiir and the armed opposition faction signed in August to end the more than 21 months of conflict.

They attribute the fears of the views held by the army chief of staff and his supporters to fact that the African Union Commission of Inquiry report which was released this year, wants those who played a negative role in the conflict or masterminded the ethnic target to be held accountable for their actions before a yet to be established Hybrid Court.

Both sides involved in the conflict, the report said, committed war crimes and crimes against humanity during the conflict, which broke out in mid-December 2013 following irreconcilable differences within the leadership of South Sudan’s ruling party (SPLM).

(ST)