Gov’t says Upper Nile governor not appointed because he was absent in Juba
SPLM-IO nominee for Upper Nile state governor General Johnson Olony (Photo credit: Supplied)
June 29, 2020 (SSNN) – South Sudan government said on Monday that Upper Nile state governor who is nominated by the SPLM-IO was not appointed because he was not in Juba where all his colleagues are.
On Monday evening, President Salva Kiir Mayardit issued a number of republican decrees appointed governors for only eight states and for three chief administrators, snubbing the appointment for Upper Nile state and restive Jonglei state.
General Johnson Oliny was nominated by SPLM-IO to be appointed as the governor of Upper Nile state, according to an opposition spokesman.
Speaking to South Sudan News Now on Monday night, information minister Michael Makuei Lueth said President Salva Kiir did not appoint the governors for the two states because the person nominated by the Upper Nile by the SPLM-IO was not in Juba and the SSOA were still looking for a nominee.
“Well, the President did not appoint the governor of Upper Nile state because the person which has been nominated by the SPLM/SPLA (IO) is not in Juba,” Makuei said on phone from South Sudan’s capital.
“As for Jonglei state, the South Sudan Opposition Alliance needs to come together and submit their nominee. They are still looking for one but they seem to be having some difficulties in choosing who can represent them in the state,” he added.
The appointment of state governors by the South Sudanese leader comes two weeks after President Salva Kiir and First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar Teny agreed, during a closed-door meeting at J1, to end the stalemate over who takes what state.
The government was given six states of Lakes, Unity, Warrap, Central Equatoria, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, and Eastern Equatoria.
Machar’s SPLM-IO was given the states of Western Bahr el Ghazal, Western Equatoria, and Upper Nile state. South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) was given the state of Jonglei which has seen a rise in inter-communal violence in recent months.
The International Community and peace guarantors have blamed the surge in violence on the absence of state governments.
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