JUBA – Embattled governor of South Sudan’s restive Jonglei state has suspended the state minister of finance, planning and investment, Wiyual Gatkuoth Changath, for allegedly uttering controversial remarks during recent protest staged by civil servants in the state capital Bor.
Last week, civil servants stormed the state secretariat and threatened to see the governor ‘personally’. The protest occurred after the government decided to cut some of the salary payments intended for civil servants in the state, sparking public outcry among the people of Jonglei.
The finance minister then said in an interview with the media that some politicians in the state of fueling protests by the civil servants and denied that the government has cut the civil servant’s salary.
“Some politicians are siding with demonstrators [and] that is what fueled these demonstrations. They give different financial reading rather than what we give them as a ministry,” he said, according to Radio Tamazuj.
“People are giving out negative critics through media outlets that we deducted the 100% increment by the president. It is not true. Jonglei only reversed the topped-up that it gave so that it was used for its normal functions,” he added.
The remarks sparked controversy among the parties to the Jonglei transitional government and forced the governor to issue a republican decree to suspend the finance minister effective February 14th.
“In the exercise of powers conferred upon me under Article 99 (2) (a) of the Transitional Constitution of the government of Jonglei State, 2011 (as amended), read together with the Republican Decree No. 57/2020 of the Republic of South Sudan by the President of the Republic on 15th July 2020,” Chagor wrote in the decree.
“I, Denay Jock Chagor, Governor of Jonglei State, do hereby issue this Gubernatorial Decree for the Suspension of Hon. Wiyual Gatkuoth Changath, as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Investment in Jonglei State, with the effect from 14 February 2022. AD.”