Jonglei Governor to be the next minister of Southern Sudan army

December 16, 2008 (BOR TOWN) — Jonglei Governor Kuol Manyang Juuk said today he will adhere to South Sudan President Kiir Mayardit’s call for SPLA affairs minister "as already listed and approached" for the position which fall vacant following May 2 plane’s crash that killed Dominic Deim Deng.

Jonglei Governor Kuol Manyang Juuk

In his office on Tuesday, Gov. Kuol Manyang disclosed that he had been approached by GoSS President Salva Kiir Mayardit to fill the post of Sudan People’s Liberation Army Affairs Minister and accepted the assignment.

"As the head of Government of Southern Sudan, I have to respect any assignment he gives to me including being laid off and go home," he said referring to the call to lead SPLA and quitting Governorship; the position he held for the last for twelve (12) months.

Manyang further says he is comfortable as a governor and wouldn’t bother when he will take the long vacant office. Dominic Deim Deng, the late SPLA Affairs Minister was killed in plane crash on May 2, 2008 while returning to Juba from Bar-al-Ghazal region.

On June 4, 2008, Gov. Kuol downplayed the alleged appointment saying he is “a military freedom-fighter who turned full civilian on January 9th, 2005 (when peace returned to Sudan), adding "President of Government of Southern Sudan, 1st Lt. Gen. Kiir Mayardit never told me about such decision."

Now approached, the long time SPLM/A men, is ready to take the Southern Sudan military wing with commitment. "What is important to me is to work but the position," he said.

2nd Lt. Gen. Kuol Manyang Juuk, an active SPLM/A veteran since 1983 when the war of liberation commenced in Bor, also served as Minister for Roads and Transport, Government of National Unity before his position was swapped with former Government Philip Thon Leek. Governor Kuol won being father of academicians at Dr. John Garang de Mabior Institute of Science and Technology in Bor as students attributed his1987 sending of children to Ethiopia ‘the beginning take all children to school program.’

Today’s revelation by Governor Kuol Manyang that he could move to the military had being the centre of discussion in Jonglei capital Bor Town. Some residents say Gov. Kuol’s transfer may directly affect the surging raiding and halt the progressive development.

"This is a blow to Jonglei State because security will fall. He is leaving in us the middle of a sea," a resident identified as Mabior said. "What can we do? It is the Government of Southern Sudan to send a right person," a man reacted to the news of Kuol exit from Jonglei State. "He should always think about the plans he had laid," another one observed.

Asked whether he has knowledge about the possible successor, he says the task is beyond his mandate. "It is not my duty to choose the next governor. I think the President may collect public opinion to appoint the next governor," he said adding "this, I think, is the reason why he [Kiir] is taking long to tell the date I will leave the State."

Kuol says constitutionally his deputy Hussien Mar may lead the State for the meantime could his appointment be effective before a successor is selected.