Kiir fires Western Bahr el Ghazal deputy governor, names replacement

JUBA – South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit has issued a republican decree replacing the SPLM-nominated deputy governor of the country’s Western Bahr el Ghazal state Angelo Taban Biajo.

The decree read out on the state-owned South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) did not cite any reason behind the sacking of the second most powerful person in Western Bahr el Ghazal state.

However, differences between Mr. Biajo and opposition-nominated governor Sarah Hassan Cleto Rial have been making headlines on social media as Mr. Biajo has reportedly refused to cooperate with his boss.

In a separate republican decree, Kiir appointed Zechariah Joseph Garang as the replacement and cited powers given to him under the transitional constitution and the revitalized peace agreement he signed with main armed opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar three years ago.