KHARTOUM, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) — South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit announced the line-up of a new cabinet one month after the official declaration of the region’s independence, South Sudan ‘s government said on its website Saturday.

The new cabinet would replace the current caretaker government that has administered South Sudan since its independence last month.

The line-up published on the website showed that the new cabinet is composed of 29 ministries, including finance, foreign affairs and energy.

The most prominent names in the list of ministers are Deng Alor for cabinet affairs, Nhial Deng Nhial for foreign affairs and international cooperation, Kosti Manibe Ngai for finance and economic planning, and Agnes Poni Lokudu for transport.

Some ministries, such as the ministry of peace, were cancelled, while others such as commerce, industry and investment were merged into one ministry and so were the ministries of culture, youths and sports.

The ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) assumed most of the seats in the new government, but many other southern Sudan political parties have been involved including the National Congress Party (NCP), which has been given the ministry of transport.

South Sudan was officially declared independent on July 9, 2011, according to the results of a January referendum held under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) inked between north and south Sudan in 2005.

South Sudan president names new cabinet

1 of 1Full Size

JUBA (Reuters) – South Sudan’s president replaced the caretaker government that has overseen the country since independence last month and named a team of new ministers including finance, foreign affairs and energy, the government said.

The new line-up better reflects the country’s diverse ethnic mix and contains more faces from the country’s different regions, local media said on Saturday.

South Sudan broke away from the north on July 9 following a January referendum, splitting Africa’s biggest country in two.

Africa’s newest state is also one of the world’s poorest and President Salva Kiir is grappling with a string of border disputes with the north and disagreements with Khartoum over oil revenues, currency and debt.

Some observers criticised Kiir’s caretaker cabinet for being dominated by his Dinka community and another, the Nuer. The prevalence of new ministers from other regions, particularly Central Equatoria, seems designed to redress that imbalance.

Among the new appointments listed on the government’s website on Saturday.

http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE77Q02R20110827

August 26 , 2011 (JUBA) — Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan on Friday formed a new cabinet where all the region got an equal number of ministerial portfolios, in a bid to relieve frustrations dominated the interim period particularly in the Greater Equatoria.

Southern Sudanese watch a giant South Sudan’s flag being raised during the independence ceremony in the capital Juba on July 09, 2011 (Getty)

South Sudan officially became an independent state on 9 July following the conduct of the internationally monitored referendum on self determination in January. The self-determination process was part of the 2005 peace agreement which brought to an end to over two decades of war between the two parties of the Sudan.

During the interim period which started in 2005 , some tribes in the South complained against domination of some key ministries by two major tribes of Dinka and Nuer.

In a visible effort to address these concerns and deliver a balanced cabinet, President Kiir in his new government, composed of 29 ministers and 27 deputy ministers, named ten people from Greater Equatoria into higher ranking ministerial portfolio.

He named General Alison Manani Magaya as interior minister while Kosti Manibe Ngai was taped as Finance and Economic Development Minister. General Alfred Lado Gore, Emmanuel Lowila, Betty Achan Ogwaro, Agnes Poni Lokudu, Jemma Nunu Kuma, Agnes Lasuba, Martin Elia Lomoro and Ciron Hiteng Ofuho have equally been appointed into higher ranking ministerial portfolio.

In the Greater Bhar el Ghazal, Nhial Deng Nhial, Madut Biar Yel, Awut Deng Acuil, Garang Diing Akuong, Paul Mayom Akec, David Deng Athorbei, Michael Milly Hussein, Joseph Lual Acuil, Joseph Ukel Abango and Deng Alor Kuol from the contested region of Abyei were named national ministers.

Notably, the Greater Upper Nile saw the appointment of John Luke Jok, Michael Makuei Lueth, Gier Chuang Aluong, Oyai Deng Ajak, Stephen Dhieu Dau, Gabriel Changson Chang, Peter Adwok Nyaba, Barnaba Marial Benjamin , John Kong Nyuon just to name but few.

In a bid to full 25% share of women, the president named 5 female at national ministries and 10 others as deputy ministers.

In an interview with Sudan Tribune following the announcement of the new cabinet, Tong Lual Ayat, the leader of the opposition United Democrat Party commended the president for appointing what he described as “competent and balanced cabinet”.

“The United Democratic Party congratulates the President for forming his cabinet based on merits and loyalty to the people of South Sudan. This was what he said. So it is good he has kept his words. This cabinet is competent and balanced”, said Tong Lual Ayat.

He further said appointment of different officials into key ministries of finance, interior, justice, defense, agriculture, higher education, National Security and a minister in the office of the president from other regions and tribe shows Kiir’s commitment to uniting the whole country.

Deng Mawien Kuot, a senior member of the government of South Sudan welcomed appointment of General Alison Manani Magaya as the national minister of interior, describing him good, hard working and committed person.

“I know General Alison Manai Magaya. He was the national minister of public service in Khartoum for ten years. He was such a very good and hard working person that was he able to serve for ten years in Khartoum with the National Congress Party. He is experienced person”, he stressed.

Bol Thuc Guot, a member of the South Sudan’s ruling party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement from Warrap State commended president for appointing balanced cabinet.

“For now, I believe everybody; especially politicians from Greater Equatoria should be happy because this cabinet represents all the region and states. It should no longer be viewed as Dinka government now, he pointed out.

“There should be no more cries about Dinka corruption and prejudice instead. We should call it an Equatoria and Upper Nile cabinet. The Bahr el Ghazal is now left out from key positions,” said Guot.

But Alfred Sebit observed the appointment as recycling of what he termed as “old guards”

“There is nothing impressive about this cabinet. Almost old faces have returned. The new faces in the cabinet are accountable. I see Dr. Betty Achan, Agnes Poni, Emmanuel Lowila and General Alison Magaya as new faces. The rest are old guards,” he said

“There should be no celebrations. Let’s first wait and see,” Sebit warned

He, however, admitted that the composition of the cabinet as representative and uniting.“I see it is time to guide this new nation to a better direction and better future. This appointment has reached single section; it has captured, the regions, the states and the largest tribes. It has indeed somehow reflected the will of some people if not majority”.

(ST)

http://www.sudantribune.com/South-Sudan-president-seeks-to,39963