By Lodu William Odiya
President Salva Kiir Mayardit has on Thursday dismissed and appointed several senior officials in the Western Equatoria and Northern Bahr El Ghazal State governments.
Those affected included state advisors, ministers, members of parliament and members of specialized independent commissions, and county commissioners.
The changes were announced through a Republican Decrees read on the state-owned South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) on Thursday evening.
In Western Equatoria state, President Kiir relieved the state advisor on Economic, Samuel Batty and State Ministers Paulino David Simbi, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Grace Apollo Musa, Minister of General Education and Instruction, James Severino Morris, Minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement, and Naoumba Mariam Sigini, Minister of Animal Resources, Fisheries and Tourism.
He also relieved Minister Anna Tuna Richard, who was the Minister of Roads and Bridges, John Ada, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, and Alison Barnaba, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Environment.
Kiir also relieved John Obote, Chairperson of Human Rights Commission and Mbiko Alfred Barakati former Yambio County commissioner.
Meanwhile, he appointed Samuel Batty as the state Advisor on Peace and Security, Grace Apollo Musa, Advisor on Economics.
He also appointed Charles Gamboripai as the state Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Dr. Mandy Daniel as the Minister of General Education and Instruction, Alison Barnaba as the Minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement, and Samuel Simon Zigizo, Minister of Animal Resources, Fisheries and Tourism.
Kiir further appointed Emi Emmanuel Lavrick as the Minister of Roads and Bridges, John Obote, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Leticia Benito Bagafu as the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Environment.
The president also appointed Margaret Fozia Emmanuel, Chairperson, Human Rights Commission, Jerome Okumba, replacing the late Veronica Annie Michael, Chairperson, Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, and County Commissioner, Michael Ismael, Yambio County.
Kiir also appointed the state legislative assembly naming Rt. Hon. Antuna Richard as the Speaker of the parliament, Philip Gambi Samuel as a Member and Bage Biko James also as a member.
In Northern Bhar El Ghazal State, president Kiir relieved State Advisors Joseph Akok Aleu, who was the Advisor for Peace and Security and Awet Kiir Awet, Advisor on Legal Affairs.
He also relieved State Ministers Ruai Dut Akol, Finance & Investment, Abuor Gordon Nhial, Peace Building, and Peter Dut Akot, Animal Resources & Fishers, Monica Nyibol Aleu, Gender, Child & Social Welfare, and Daniel Deng Deng, Labor, Public Service & Human Resources Development.
The head of state further relived State Independent Commissions Jacob Maduok Dau, Justice & employees Chairperson, Garang Yak Machuar, Member of HIV & AIDs Commission, Mayar Awer Yel, Member, Conflict & Resolution commission, and Geoge Garang Tong, Member, Justice & employees commission, and Garang Kuac Ariath member, Conflict & Resolution commission.
President Kiir also relieved Aweil East County Commissioner Diing Aher Ngong, and replaced Garang Thiang Deng as the new County commissioner.
Meanwhile, the head of state appointed Awet Kiir Awet as state Advisor on Peace & Security and Garang Dut Gar, state advisor on Legal Affairs.
He also appointed Peter Dut Akot as the state minister of Finance & Investment, Peter Kuot Dut Majak, Peace Building, and Hekima Ali Malek Dhel, Labor, Public Service & Human Resource development, Akol Wol Mawien, Animal resources, Fishers & Tourism and Monica Aker Malual, state minister of Gender, Child & Social Welfare.
Kiir further appointed Yel Deng Nguel, chairperson of Justice & employees commission, Martin Ahel Ahel Member, justice & employees commission, and Joseph Achoor Achoor Member, HIV & AIDs commission including Barcham Woya Ujuak, Member, Conflict & resolution commission.
President also appointed the state Legislative Assembly Officials naming Abuk Jiel Dhieu, Rt.Hon. as the Speaker of the parliament, Debek Atak Longar and Joseph Deng Nguach as members respectively.