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By NSV
Posted to the web on December 18, 2008 |
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December 17, 2008 (Edmonton, CA) - The heir to Jonglei Gov. Kuol Manyang Juuk has been appointed by President Salva Kiir but simmering opposition from some quarters in the Nuer Community is prolonging its announcement, The New Sudan Vision has learned.
Makuei Lueth - Minister of Legal Affairs
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Minister of Legal Affairs, Makuei (reads Makuen) Lueth is South Sudan President’s choice to succeed Gov. Kuol Manyang, a confidant of the Minister has disclosed today.
The source says South Sudan President Kiir asked Makuei Lueth two weeks ago to be the governor. However, an emissary of the President had been sent earlier to ‘brainstorm’ on the governorship and the Minister had no objection for the proposal for him to occupy Gov. Kuol’s seat, the source adds. Of late, says the person close to the Minister, it looks as if this arrangement is ‘dying out.’
Apparently, according to the person, there seems to be some disagreement over Mr. Makuei being appointed governor.
On the one hand, some argue that removing Makuei from Legal Affairs distances him from the vital process of the implementation of the CPA since he would move to state level. But on the other hand, some leaders from the Nuer Community voice that it would be inequitable to have three consecutive governors come from the Dinka. Possible candidates to assume the governorship of Jonglei from Nuer circles include Chuol Rambang, Hussein Maar, Deputy Governor for Jonglei under Philip Thon Leek and Kuol Manyang respectively, and James Kok, Minister of Commerce for Government of Southern Sudan.
Gordon Deng Lam, is ethnic Nuer from Jonglei, and works as SPLM Chapter Treasurer in Kitchener, Canada. He argues that in the present talks of succession, Jonglei needs a uniter and not a divider.
“We want someone who can fulfill the vision of the SPLM. Someone who would ensure there’s no division and brings everyone together. The state belongs to everybody,” he said.
”[Deputy Governor] Hussein deserves the position because he has cooperation with all the people.”
Pastor James Dual, elder from the Jonglei Nuer Community in Edmonton, Canada, agrees. He said
Mr. Hussein would be the right person for Jonglei but he adds that there would be no rejection of whoever GOSS appoints at the moment until that time when people in Jonglei can exercise their voting rights.
Meanwhile, Minister Makuei, says the source, would not ‘deviate’ from footsteps of the outgoing governor should his appointment be confirmed. He would take seriously the issue of security in Jonglei which he says, according to the source, would be a catalyst for development of the State.
We also learn that Minister Makuei could be replaced by either Minister of Interior Paul Mayom Akec or Nhial Deng Nhial should his appointment be ratified.
Jonglei State has a total of 11 counties, of which six belongs to Nuer, three to Dinka, one to Anyuak and one to Murle. Akobo and Khorfulous are majority Nuer but there is significant population of Anyuak in Akobo and Dinka Ngok in Khorfulous.
Deng Tiordit de Deng, President of the Bor Community in Calgary, Canada, says it does not matter if a Nuer succeeds Gov. Kuol but he is concerned about the long run, in a country where most people vote along tribal lines. He appears to believe there is a conspiracy in the division of counties in Jonglei, and says it is not accurate because it gives Nuer majority while he asserts the Dinka are the majority.
“The problem is that these [Nuer] counties that are being purported are not that big enough. This is Riek Machar’s division,” he claims. “[Vice President] Riek wants majority in the [Jonglei] Parliament to support him and his ideas. So he has to create Nuer as a great power.”
For now the Government of South Sudan can pick whoever it desires but few years down the road people will choose, and the lopsided allocation of counties in favour of Nuer would have to be determined by a proper census, he said.
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