Ex-minister says oil ministry not a family company

June 18, 2019 Newsbeat

Former Minister of Petroleum, Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth(Photo credit: supplied)

June 18^th 2019 (SSNN) – South Sudan’s former Minister of Petroleum, Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, who was dismissed from his 3–year old job last week has said his ministry is not a family company and that people should not be surprised that he had been replaced.

This followed social media reactions by several critics who mocked Gatkuoth for having been at the end dismissed despite his well-known support for President Salva Kiir.

Speaking during an inaugural ceremony of the newly appointed minister where he handed over the ministry to him, Gatkuoth says everyone can serve in the ministry.

“This Ministry is not anybody mother’s house. This Ministry belongs to all South Sudanese and everyone deserves to be appointed Minister of Petroleum,” Gatkuoth said.

Gatkuoth congratulated his successor and urged him to demonstrate his engineering experience and work hard for the betterment of the South Sudan’s oil sector.

He further congratualted President Salva Kiir Mayardiit for appointing Eng. Awou Daniel as his successor.

“I congratulates H.E [Salva] Kiir Mayardit, the President of the Republic for appointing Engineer Awow Daniel Chuang as Minister of Petroleum,” he said.