Machar to reshuffle ministers in unity gov’t – official

JUBA – South Sudan’s First Vice President and leader of the main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) Dr. Riek Machar Teny is planning to reshuffle his ministers in the transitional government of national unity, a senior member has said.

Based on the revitalized peace agreement, First Vice President Machar’s SPLM-IO has nine ministers in the national unity government as well as 27% percent of the government positions in the states, county and local levels.

Speaking to Sudans Post on Friday, a senior member of the SPLM-IO said in Juba that First Vice President Machar is planning to reshuffle his ministers and would not identify a replacement for late Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Manawa Peter Gatkuoth Gual until he is prepared for the reshuffle.

“What I have understood is that the chairman and commander in chief of the SPLM/SPLA (IO) Dr. Riek Machar Teny will not make an appointment for the ministry of water resources and irrigation until when he is prepared to reshuffle the ministers of the SPLM-IO in the R-TGONU,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

“So, the public should wait and also the SPLM-IO leadership is still seeing that Late Hon. Manawa Gatkuoth has not yet forgotten by the membership of the movement and therefore should take time before making an announcement for replacement,” he added.