Salva Kiir withdraws a presidential decree on appointment

By James Gatdet Dak
June 9, 2009 (JUBA) – President of the semi-autonomous Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS), Salva Kiir Mayardit, has issued a presidential decree reversing his earlier decree on the appointment of Longechuk county commissioner in Upper Nile state.
Kiir issued the decree on 8th June relieving the Comissioner of Longechuk County, Mr. Chambang Both Kach.
Mr. Chambang was appointed last week, replacing Mr. Stephen Pal, and his relief has come in just one week before he could take oath of office.
Members of Longechuk County in Juba have presented a petition to President Kiir explaining that the appointment of the new commissioner, whom they said was an Ethiopian, was done without consultations with the grass-root.
“The appointment of Mr. Chambang Both caught Longechuk Community worldwide by surprise. We wonder how your Excellency reached that conclusion- the appointment of an Ethiopian who has just started living in the Sudan last year for medical treatment. After he completed his medical treatment, his cousin, advised him not to return to Ethiopia , i.e., to look for a job in Juba ,” asserted the petition.
The petition accused Mr. Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, the Government of Southern Sudan’s Head of Mission in Washington, DC, among other few officials, of allegedly exercising nepotism in recommending the appointee to the President. “We realized you made this decree because someone had deceived you. And that deceiver is Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, the Ethiopian serving as the GOSS Head of Mission in Washington D.C.,” asserted the county citizens.
The reasons they cited for disqualifying the new appointed commissioner include “1. He is an Ethiopian who has utilized the position of his cousin- the GOSS Head of Mission in Washington D.C., 2. The citizens of Longechuk County were not consulted, and 3. Mr. Chambang has no political or military capability to lead us.”
Neither new appointment, nor reinstatement of former commissioner before Mr. Chambang, has been decreed by the President to replace him.
(ST)