John Akoon
Africa-Press – South-Sudan. President Salva Kiir has for the past year conducted what seems to be a clean-up in the SPLM-led states, dismissing the long-serving governors and bringing in new faces to assume the duties.
Although his latest axe fell on an SSOA member in Denay Chagor, who served as the governor of Jonglei State, just a few weeks ago, he dismissed his perceived close ally in Dr Joseph Manytuil and appointed Riek Biem in Unity State.
That change meant that SPLM now has three governors who now have to watch their backs around the clock, as they do not know the day nor the hour that the head of state may issue a decree for their replacements.
The three remaining officials include the governors Tong Akeen (Northern Bahr el Ghazal State), Louis Lobong (Eastern Equatoria State) and Rin Tueny (Lakes State), all of whom are serving as SPLM state chairpersons.
To outsiders, the systematic changes in SPLM-led states that have seen many governors face the axe could mean a statement of intent beyond the executive administration as the party heads to the elections. However, the party’s leadership has played it down.
The Secretary-General of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), Peter Lam told The City Review in an exclusive interview that all the changes that happened in the states and administrative areas were just routine changes to achieve effective governance and service delivery.
“This is a normal routine change in the SPLM states and administrative areas have nothing to do with the upcoming elections,” Lam said.
According to Lam, the party congresses and primary elections will be held so that they can select the candidates who will battle it out for the other seats except for the presidential ticket that is reserved for President Salva Kiir.
“The party congresses and primary elections will bring in leaders who will compete in the upcoming elections,” Lam said, adding that these routine changes happening in the party structures can hit anyone at any level.
He added, “Routine changes can happen to anyone at any level.”
His statement sent a warning that no one is immune to the changes currently being undertaken by the head of state.
The three governors now hold the record of the longest-serving SPLM officials—a situation that could change for any of them depending on the decision by the appointing authority.
Changes started
Last year, President Kiir fired Warrap State governor, Aleu Ayieny, and appointed Manheim Bol Malek, who was then replaced by Kuol Muor months later under the suspicion that he failed to deal with state insecurity.
The purge also affected the deputy governor of Western Bahr el Ghazal State and the Abyei Chief Administrator, replacing them with new faces.
In 2024, Kiir relieved the deputy governors of the Upper Nile, Jonglei and Western Equatoria states. The changes equally affected the Greater Pibor and Ruweng areas, where the Chief Administrators were fired.
His latest casualties were staunch SPLM senior members, Dr Joseph Manytuil and Emmanuel Adil who served as governors of Unity State and Central Equatoria State respectively. He appointed Riek Biem and Augustino Jadalla as their successors.
President Kiir did not give the rationale for the changes made inside party leadership at the state level.
A senior SPLM member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said President Kiir’s decree cannot be debated or objected to and that all decisions made are exercised by the chairperson.
“I am not sure whether they (three governors) will be in their positions as a series of changes have been made in the states and administrative areas, or not because the decision lies with the SPLM chairperson, none other than Comrade Salva Kiir Mayardit, president Kiir,” he said.
“The president’s decree in the SPLM cannot be debated, no one will question his decree. He is the one who knows who is doing what in the states,” he added.
The senior party member further explained that there were longest-serving governors like Manytuil of Unity State, but President Kiir fired him recently.
Governor of Unity State Nguen Manytuil was the long-serving governor, followed by Louis Lobong of Eastern Equatoria, Northern Bahr el Ghazal state Tong Akeen Ngor. So, Rin Tueny of Lake State is still a new one among them,” he added.
Source: The City Review South Sudan
For More News And Analysis About South-Sudan Follow Africa-Press
