Analysis of the First Cabinet of the Republic of South Sudan

By PaanLuel Wel, Washington DC, USA.

The first cabinet of the new Republic of South Sudan is finally out, with 29 national ministers and 27 deputies or assistant ministers, making a total of 56-cabinet members besides the President and his deputy.

The main interesting aspect of this cabinet is the fair distribution of core ministries that were once allegedly preserved exclusively for the Dinka Community. These so called Dinka Ministries are now dispersed as follow: Defense (Nuer), Finance and Economics (Equatoria), Interior (Equatoria), National Intelligence (Shilluk), Justice (Nuer) and only Foreign Affairs has remained with the Dinka. President Salva Kiir should be commended for this feat!!

Of the 31 old ministers and the 29 new cabinet members, 11 have been recycled, 8 retained in their old ministries, 3 demoted, 9 dropped altogether from their ministerial portfolios while 9 are either new faces or those salvaged from the Government of National Unity of the CPA-era.

Among those who have been retained in their old ministries are John Luke Jok (Justice); Michael Makwei Lueth (Parliamentary Affairs); Ms Awut Deng (Labor); Jemma Nunu (Housing); Dr. Marial Benjamin (Information); Paul Mayom Akec (Water & Irrigation); Ms Agnes Lasuba (Gender); and Madut Biar Yel (Telecommunication & Postal Services).

Of those recycled or transferred to different ministries are Nhial Deng Nhial, Deng Alor Kuol, Gen. Oyay Deng Ajak, Kosti Manibe, Garang Diing Akuong, Dr. Michael Milly, Gier Chuang Aluong, Stephen Dhieu Dau, Dr. Cirino Hiteng Ofuho, Ustaz Joseph Ukel Abango and David Deng Athorbei

The three unlucky ministers demoted from their full ministerial or higher positions into deputies or lower ranks are Dr. Majak Agoot (South Sudan National Security); Mary Jarvis Yak (Human Resource Development) and Dr. Priscilla Nyanyang (Minister without Portfolio).

Those unfortunate ministers dropped from their full cabinet positions into the dustbin of GoSS are Pagan Amum (Peace and CPA Implementation); Dr. Luka Monoja (Health); Dr. Ann Itto (Agriculture); Anthony Makana (Roads and Transport); Isaac Awan Maper (Environment); James Kok (Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management); Abdallah Albert (Wildlife Conservation and Tourism); Nyaluk Gatluak (Animal Resources and Fisheries); and Makuac Teny Youk (Youth, Sports and Recreation).

For some like Pagan Amum and Dr. Anne Itto, though, the sun has not yet set on them since they are going back to their respective positions at the prestigious SPLM secretariats and they may never be far from the center of power or the ears of the Big Man. Calling the shot, they still will!

Among the new interesting faces in this new cabinet are John Kong Nyuon, Gen. Alison Magaya, Dr. Betty Achan, Dr. Adwok Nyaba, Afred Lado, Agnes Poni, Emmanuel Lowila and Atem Yaak Atem (Man far away from war) among others.

Below is the detailed summary of the analysis of the new cabinet of the Republic of South Sudan:

(a) List of National Ministers

s/n	National Ministries	National Ministers	Region from	State from	Previous ministry	Party from
1	Ministry of Cabinet Affairs	Mr. Deng Alor Kuol	Bahr el Ghazal	Abyei/Warrap	Foreign Affairs	SPLM
2	Ministry of Defense and Veteran Affairs	Gen. John Kong Nyuon	Upper Nile	Jonglei	New Face	SPLM
3	Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation	Mr. Nhial Deng Nhial	Bahr el Ghazal	Warrap	Defence	SPLM
4	Minister, Office of the President	Mr. Emmanuel Lowilla	Equatoria	Central Equatoria	New face	SPLM
5	Minister for National Security, Office of the President	Gen. Oyay Deng Ajak	Upper Nile	Upper Nile	Investment	SPLM
6	Ministry of Justice	Mr. John Luke Jok	Upper Nile	Jonglei	Justice	SPLM
7	Ministry of Interior	Gen. Alison Manani Magaya	Equatoria	Western Equatoria	New Face/GoNU	NCP
8	Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs	Mr. Michael Makwei Lueth	Upper Nile	Jonglei	Parliamentary Affairs	SPLM
9	Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning	Kosti Manibe Ngai	Equatoria	Western Equatoria	Cabinet Affairs	SPLM
10	Ministry of Labor, Public Service and Human Resource Development	Ms. Awut Deng Acuil	Bahr el Ghazal	Warrap	Labour and Public Service	SPLM
11	Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment	Mr. Garang Diing Akuong	Bahr el Ghazal	Northern Bahr Ghazal	Energy and Mining	SPLM
12	Ministry of Information and Broadcasting	Dr Barnaba Marial Benjamin	Upper Nile	Jonglei	Information	SPLM
13	Ministry of Health	Dr. Michael Milly Hussein	Bahr el Ghazal	Western Bahr el Ghazal	General Education	SPLM
14	Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry	Dr. Betty Achan Ogwaro	Equatoria	Eastern Equatoria	New Face	SPLM
15	Ministry of Roads and Bridges	Mr. Gier Chuang Aluong	Upper Nile	Jonglei	Interior	SPLM
16	Ministry of Transport	Ms. Agnes Poni Lokudu	Equatoria	Central Equatoria	New Face	SPLM
17	Ministry of General Education and Instruction	Ustaz Joseph Ukel Abango	Bahr el Ghazal	Western Bahr el Ghazal	Higher Education, Science and Technology	USAP
18	Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology	Dr. Peter Adwok Nyaba	Upper Nile	Upper Nile	New Face/GoNU	SPLM
19	Ministry of Environment	Mr. Alfred Lado Gore	Equatoria	Central Equatoria	New Face/Presidential Advisor	SPLM
20	Ministry of Housing and Physical Planning	Ms. Jemma Nunu Kumba	Equatoria	Western Equatoria	Housing and Physical Planning	SPLM
21	Ministry of Telecommunication and Postal Services	Mr.Madut Biar Yel	Bahr el Ghazal	Northern Bahr el Ghazal	Communication and Postal Services	SPLM
22	Ministry of Petroleum and Mining	Mr. Stephen Dhieu Dau	Upper Nile	Upper Nile	Commerce and Industry	SPLM
23	Ministry of Electricity and Dams	Mr. David Deng Athorbei	Bahr el Ghazal	Lakes	Finance and Economic Planning	SPLM
24	Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare	Ms. Agnes Kwaje Lasuba	Equatoria	Central Equatoria	Gender, Child and Social Welfare	NCP
25	Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management	Mr. Joseph Lual Acuil	Bahr el Ghazal	Warrap	New Face	SPLM
26	Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation	Mr. Paul Mayom Akec	Bahr el Ghazal	Lakes	Irrigation and Water Resources	SPLM
27	Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism	Mr. Gabriel Changson	Upper Nile	Upper Nile	Culture and Heritage	UDSF-M
28	Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries	Dr. Martin Elia Lomuro	Equatoria	Central Equatoria	New Face	Democratic Forum
29	Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports	Dr. Cirino Hiteng Ofuho	Equatoria	Eastern Equatoria	Office of the President	SPLM

(b) List of Deputy Ministers

s/n	D/National Ministries	D/National Ministers	Region from	state from	Previous ministry	Party from
1	Cabinet Affairs	Mr. Wek Mamer Kuol	Bahr el Ghazal	Warrap	none	SPLM
2	Defense and Veteran Affairs	Dr. Majak Agot Atem	Upper Nile	Jonglei	Head of South Sudan National Security	SPLM
3	Foreign Affairs	Ms. Grace Daterio	Equatoria	Western Equatoria	none	SPLM
4	International Cooperation	Prof. Elias Nyamlel Wako	Bahr el Ghazal	Western Bahr el Ghazal	none	SPLM
5	Justice	Mr. Paulino Wanawila Onango	Equatoria	Central Equatoria	none	SPLM
6	Interior	Mr. Salva Mathok Gengdit	Bahr el Ghazal	Warrap	Presidential advisor	SPLM
7	Finance	Mr. Marial Awou	Bahr el Ghazal	Lakes	none	SPLM
8	Finance	Ms. Mary Jervas Yak	Bahr el Ghazal	Western Bahr el Ghazal	Human Resource Developmen	SPLM
9	Labor, Public Service and Human Resource Development	Mr. Kwong Danhier Gatluak	Upper Nile	Unity	none	SPLM
10	Commerce, Industry and Investment	Mr. Kengen Jakor	Upper Nile	Jonglei	none	SPLM
11	Information and Broadcasting	Mr. Atem Yak Atem	Upper Nile	Jonglei	none	SPLM
12	Health	Dr. Yatta Loli Lugar	Equatoria	Central Equatoria	none	SPLM
13	Agriculture and Forestry	Mr. Beda Machar Deng	Bahr el Ghazal	Warrap	none	SPLM
14	Roads and Bridges	Mr. Simon Majok Majak	Upper Nile	Unity	none	SPLM
15	Transport	Mr. Mayom Kuoc Malek	Bahr el Ghazal	Warrap	none	Democratic Forum
16	General Education and Instruction	Ms. Rebecca Joshua Okwaci	Upper Nile	Upper Nile	none	SPLM
17	Higher Education, Science and Technology	Ustaz Gabriel Kuc Abyei	Bahr el Ghazal	Abyei/Warrap	none	ANC
18	Environment	Mr. Philip Palet Gadin	Upper Nile	Jonglei	none	SANU
19	Housing and Physical Planning	Ms. Mary Nyawulang	Upper Nile	Jonglei	none	SPLM
20	Telecommunication and Postal Services	Ms. Bettrice Khamisa Wani	Equatoria	Central Equatoria	none	SPLM
21	Petroleum and Mining	Ms. Elizabeth James Buth	Upper Nile	Upper Nile	none	UDSF-M
22	Electricity and Dams	Ms. Rhoda David Alak	Bahr el Ghazal	Warrap	none	USAP
23	Gender, Child and Social Welfare	Dr. Priscilla Nyanyang Joseph	Bahr el Ghazal	Lakes	Minister without Portfolio	SPLM
24	Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management	Ms.Sabina Dario Okolong	Equatoria	Eastern Equatoria	none	SPLM
25	Animal Resources and Fisheries	Ms. Nadia Arop Dudi	Bahr el Ghazal	Unity	none	SPLM
26	Water Resources and Irrigation	Mr. Ali Keti Ochie	Upper Nile	Upper Nile	none	SPLM
27	Wildlife Conservation and Tourism	Mr. Obuch Ojwok	Equatoria	Eastern Equatoria	none	SPLM

Regionally speaking there 10 full ministers and 10 deputies from Greater Bahr el Ghazal; 9 full ministers and 11 deputies from Greater Upper Nile; and 10 full ministers and 6 deputies from Greater Equatoria. In terms of full ministerial portfolios, these translate into 34.5% for Greater Bahr el Ghazal, 31% Greater Upper Nile and 34.5% for Greater Equatoria.

And with Greater Bahr el Ghazal having 33%, Greater Upper Nile 35% and Greater Equatoria 32% of the total population of the Republic of South Sudan according to the last national census, it is inferentially accurate to estimate that Greater Equatoria region has taken the lion share of the full ministerial posts while Greater Upper Nile have been minimally underrepresented.

This, however, is not the case when you consider the combined cabinet numbers—both full ministerial positions as well as the deputies. In that case, Greater Equatoria come up with lesser percentage of her rightful share while both Bahr el Ghazal and Upper Nile take slightly more than what they deserved. This is nevertheless the balancing act to compensate ministerial allocations with assistant ministers.

(C) Summary of the cabinet distribution at the Greater Regional Level

s/n	Name of Region	No. of ministries	No. of Deputy Ministries	Total cabinet share	Percentage share	Regional Ranking
1	Greater Upper Nile	9	11	20	35.71%	2
2	Greater Bahr el Ghazal	10	10	20	35.71%	1
3	Greater Equatoria	10	6	16	28.57%	3
Total	————————-	29	27	56	100%	————

At the states’ level, Jonglei state has 5 national ministers and 5 deputy ministers; Upper Nile state 4 ministers and 3 deputies; Unity state ZERO ministers and 3 deputies; Warrap state 4 ministers and 6 deputies; Western Bahr el Ghazal state 2 ministers and 2 deputies; Northern Bahr el Ghazal state 2 ministers and ZERO deputies; Lakes state 2 ministers and 2 deputies; Western Equatoria state 3 ministers and 1 deputy; Central Equatoria state 5 ministers and 3 deputies and Eastern Equatoria state 2 ministers and 2 deputies.

(d) Summary of the cabinet distribution at the State Level

s/n	Name of State	No. of ministries	No. of Deputy Ministries	Total cabinet share	Percentage share	State Ranking
1	Jonglei	5	5	10	17.85%	1
2	Unity	0	3	3	5.36%	10
3	Upper Nile	4	3	7	12.50%	4
4	Warrap	4	6	10	17.85%	2
5	Lakes	2	2	4	7.14%	6
6	Northern Bahr el Ghazal	2	0	2	3.57%	9
7	Western Bahr el Ghazal	2	2	4	7.14%	6
8	Western Equatoria	3	1	4	7.14%	5
9	Central Equatoria	5	3	8	14.29%	3
10	Eastern Equatoria	2	2	4	7.14%	6
Total	————————	29	27	56	100%	————-

These numbers indicate that, on the one hand, Jonglei, Warrap and Central Equatoria states have been allocated more seats in the cabinet relative to other states within their respective Greater Regions, population size notwithstanding. While, on the other hand, Unity and Northern Bahr el Ghazal states have been proportionally marginalized in comparison to other sister states within their respective Greater Regions, notwithstanding the population size.

Is the new government a lean and a broad-based one? Whether or not this was the lean and broad-based government that President Salva Kiir promised the citizens of the Republic of South Sudan is everybody’s guess!! Suffice to say that, of the 56 ministers and deputy ministers appointed, only 4 full ministers and about 5 deputy ministers are non-SPLM members. There is no single SPLM-DC member in the entire new government.

Lastly, gender is another vital aspect of the new government we must analyze, particularly the constitutionally mandated 25% share for women in the national government, cabinet included. Of the 29 full ministers and the 27 deputies, there are 5 full national ministers and 10 deputies that are females. Does that satisfy the 25% women share? You bet! It is 26.79% of the combined appointees!

All in all, although there are some few issues here and there, President Salva Kiir has done a commendable job this time round. He deserves our heartfelt congratulations for not commencing the daunting task of (re)building the new nation on a wrong footing! Congratulations Mr. President and your team for the new and first government of the Republic of South Sudan!

Lastly, I would like to thank Mr. Gordon Buay (Canada) and Mr. Peter Karlo (USA) for their invaluable assistances in tracking down and identifying the states and regions the cabinet members hail from. Any error or misrepresentation thereof is of my own making, however.

You can reach PaanLuel Wël at paanluel2011@gmail.com (email address), PaanLuel Wel (Facebook page), PaanLuelWel2011 (Twitter account) or through his blog account at: http://paanluelwel2011.wordpress.com//

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PaanLuel Wël

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PaanLuel Wël is the founder and editor-in-chief of PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd, a news website that covers news, opinions, analysis, history, culture and literature of South Sudan and the world. Founded in July 2011 by PaanLuel Wël to create a platform for free expression and constructive dialogue, the website features articles from various contributors, including columnists, commentators, poets, authors, activists and academics. PaanLuel Wël believes that media can play a vital role in informing, educating and empowering the people to participate in nation-building and social transformation. He also believes that media can foster a culture of dialogue, tolerance and diversity among different communities and groups, and hopes to inspire and mentor the next generation of South Sudanese writers and journalists.

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