South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir on Monday appointed governors for eight states for the transitional coalition government formed four months ago in line with a revitalized peace agreement reached in 2018, reported Anadolu Agency.
Earlier this month, Kiir and former rebel leader Riek Machar, who is currently the country’s vice president, reached a deal on the selection of governors for the country’s 10 states.
According to a decree read on state-run South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation on Monday, President Kiir reappointed Luiz Labong as the governor of Eastern Equatoria State. Mr. Labong has served as a governor since his appointment in 2010. He also appointed Emmanuel Adhil the governor of Central Equatoria State. Mr Adhil has previously served as the governor of the now defunct Yei River State.
The South Sudan’s president further appointed Joseph Monytuil the governor of Unity State. He previously served as Governor of the former Northern Liech State.
Makur Kulang (Lakes State), Bona Panek (Warrap State), and Tong Aken Ngor (Northern Bhar-el-Ghazal) have also been appointed. Sarah Cleto Rial, the only female governor, has been assigned to Ghar-el-Ghazel, while Alfred Futio (the SPLM-IO sector commander) was appointed the governor for Western Equatoria State.
President Kiir, however, did not appoint governors for two states namely Jonglei and Upper Nile. It currently remains unclear when the governors of the two states will be appointed.
The crisis caused by the political rivalry between Kiir and Machar began in 2013, plunging South Sudan into civil war. The civil war left nearly 400,000 people dead and four million others displaced and slashed crude oil production, leading to economic ruin. It ended in 2018 with the signing of the peace agreement and formation of a unity government in 2020.
According to the 2018 peace deal, the South Sudan government will fully be established when parliament is constituted.
