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August 5, 2011 (JUBA) - The first sitting of the newly established South Sudan Council of States on Friday elected Joseph Bul Chan at its speaker, during a colourful ceremony that also witnessed the swearing-in of the 50 members appointed though the recently issued presidential decree.
- Members of the SPLM political bureau and the Council of States from the ruling party attending Thursday’s meeting. August 4, 2011 (Photo: Kenneth Thomas)
The half-day occasion, held at country’s National Assembly was presided over by John Wol Makech, Chief Justice of the newly independent Republic of South Sudan.
On August 1, South Sudan president Salva Kiir Mayardit issued a declaration establishing and appointing 50 Council of State representatives for the new nation, less than a month after he was sworn-in as its first leader.
The Council currently consists of 20 representatives from Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) drawn from all the 10 states of the country, and 30 additional members from “other categories”.
The Council of States, Sudan Tribune has learned, will meet in the Blue Room; one of the designated sections within the assembly.
Meanwhile, president Kiir on Thursday addressed a joint meeting of members from the SPLM political bureau and the Council of State members from the South Sudan’s ruling party. During the meeting, Kiir reportedly reiterated his earlier pledge to form a broad-based government that will effectively deliver services to the people.
He further urged the Council of the States members to work extra hard as South Sudan strives to address the enormous challenges that engulf the new nation citing, poor infrastructure, food insecurity, health shortfalls and political instabilities.
The president, also lauded renegade commander, Peter Gatdet, for his timely response to the amnesty he publicly announced on July 9, saying it was a true indication that even people, who initially rebelled, were committed to the development of the new nation.
On Wednesday, Gadet-led South Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SSLM/A) signed an unconditional ceasefire with the southern government, only for another faction of the rebel movement to emerge and completely distance themselves from the truce.
The Unity State-based rebel movement, their 4 August statement noted, is not affected by the defection of their leader, adding that Gadet and his spokesman, Bol Gatkouth Kol, allegedly had made a unilateral peace with the government in Juba.
The new Council of States, will among others duties, supervise the national reconstruction projects and programs being carried out by national institutions in the states, monitor the implementation of the decentralised systems by the institutions in the states, as well as carry out other functions as stipulated in the country’s transitional constitution.
(ST)
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