Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The government of South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria state said Wednesday it will pursue legal action against its former minister of parliamentary affairs, accusing him of falsely claiming to still hold office after being impeached in the past two years.
Authorities allege that Joseph Opio Wilson Okullo, who was removed by the state’s transitional legislative assembly in December 2022, has been actively engaging with foreign embassies and media while presenting himself as the legitimate minister.
“The government of Eastern Equatoria state wishes to notify the foreign missions, government institutions, private institutions and the general public that Joseph Opio Wilson Okullo was impeached… and subsequently relieved of his duties,” said Elia John Ahaji, the state’s current minister of information.
“He is no longer a minister… Hence, he has no official right to represent or act on behalf of the Eastern Equatoria state government.”
Ahaji stated that the government was surprised to learn of Okullo’s continued “illegal engagement” with various institutions.
“He engages illegally with foreign missions, government and private institutions as if he were still the state minister… which constitutes a criminal offense,” Ahaji said.
The information minister directed all organizations to only interact with Okullo in a personal capacity. He warned that the state government would not be responsible for any “inconveniences resulting from dealings with such a ghost subject minister.”
Okullo, a member of the Other Political Party (OPP), was impeached following allegations concerning the unauthorized sale of a ministry vehicle. He was replaced by Peter Gumbo, who is also from the OPP.
Attempts to reach Okullo for comment on Wednesday were unsuccessful.
South Sudan is governed by a transitional coalition government established under a 2018 peace deal, which shares power between the formerly warring parties at national and local levels.
The OPP is a signatory to the 2018 peace agreement, the implementation of which has faced repeated delays and challenges.
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