Jonglei deputy governor rejects ‘unilateral’ suspension of labour minister

BOR – The deputy governor of South Sudan’s Jonglei State Jacob Akech Dengdit has expressed strong opposition to Governor Denay Jock Chagor’s decision to suspend the state’s minister of labour and public service John Bany Kuek.

Chagor, a member of SSOA, on November 10, 2023, issued a gubernatorial decree suspending Kuek, a member of the SPLM party, without citing any reason behind apart from the powers given to him by the transitional constitution and the revitalized peace agreement.

In a statement addressed to Chagor, Akech who subscribes to the SPLM, criticized the suspension, alleging that it violates the revitalized peace agreement and emphasized the importance of consulting and reaching consensus among parties in decision-making processes.

“Your suspension of the Minister of Labor, Public Services, Human Resource Development who is also the Deputy Chairperson of SPLM without my consent is a clear violation of the R-ARCSS,” the deputy governor stated.

He added that the governor has been intimidating and harassing senior state government officials belonging to the SPLM party under Kiir and claimed that the governor also has a conflict of interest affecting his administrative work.

“This is not the first of its kind for you to intimidate, harass, and threaten the SPLM Ministers, Commissioners, and former mayors in the State,” he said.

“I am very much aware of your conflict of interest over the administrative issues of the Ministry of Labor, Public Service, and Human Resource Development after the Minister suspended the Director-General who happens to be your close relative on administrative matters of the Ministry,” he said.

Akech further went on to request Governor Chagor to reconsider the suspension of the minister and threatened that his party will be forced to decide its fate in participating in the Jonglei State government if the suspension is not reversed.

“The suspension is against the spirit and principles of collegial cooperation in the Governance of the State, and therefore, I am requesting you to reconsider your decision of suspension and Reinstate the Minister back to his Ministry,” he said. Dengdit said.

“Failure to do so will be detrimental to the operations of the Government, and the SPLM party shall inclusively decide its fate in relations to the participation in the State Government Notably,” he threatened.