‘I don’t want to continue in the gov’t’ – Kuol Manyang

JUBA – South Sudan’s senior presidential advisor and former minister of defense Kuol Manyang Juuk has said that he has done his part in the government and does not want to continue saying he would go home and work in the agricultural sector.

Manyang who was also a governor for Jonglei state until 2013 made the remarks during an interview with the Juba-based journalist Mathiang Cirilo and said he has contributed and fought for the SPLM for 22 years and what ever is left would be for the young people to continue.

“I have done my part. I have fought for 22 years and has been in the government for a very long time. So I have done what was needed and I will leave the rest to the young people,” he said.

When asked whether he would seek approval from the leadership of the SPLM for him to go, Manyang said his decision “is personal and I do not need permission from anybody on whether to continue in politics or not.”

The senior government official said he had told President Salva Kiir that he intended to be out of the government following the dissolution of the unity government formed in 2016 and said he will go for farming.

“I didn’t want to be in the government again. When I was appointed as senior presidential advisor, I was going to farming and I am already farming in Renk and also here in Juba,” Manyang said.

“I told the president that once I exit the ministry [of defense], I don’t want to work in the government again as minister or at any other capacity,” he added.