S. Sudan education minister arrives in Abyei hours after plane crash

JUBA – South Sudan’s minister of general education, Awut Deng Acuil, has arrived in the capital of the country’s Abyei Special Administrative Area (ASAA) Abyei to inaugurate Mabuony Primary School in Agok which is being funded by the Royal Norwegian Government and UNICEF.

Minister Achuil’s arrival to Abyei comes just hours after a 4-crew Antonov plane carrying primary eight examination papers missed runway and landed on the road in Agok instead killing none of all those on board.

“The National Minister of General Education Hon. Awut Deng Acuil and the accompanying Delegation arrived to Abyei Special Administrative Area this morning to witness the launching of Basic Education Project at Mabuony Primary School in Agok,” the office of Abyei chief administrator said in a statement.

“Upon the arrival, the National Minister and the accompanying Delegation were received at Agok Airstrip by the Chief Administrator of Abyei Special Administrative Area Hon. Lt. Gen Kuol Deim Kuol and Senior officials of the Area Administration, also in attendance was the Area Caretaker Minister of Education, Information, Culture, Youth and Sport Hon. Ajak Deng Miyen,” the statement said.

In a statement to the media, the chief administer, Kuol Deim Kuol, welcomed the visit and “appreciated the role of the National Government and the Ministry of General Education in supporting the education in the Area” and further “extended my appreciated to the partners, the Royal Embassy of Norway and UNICEF for the support.”

On her part, the visiting national minister appreciated “the warm reception made by people of Abyei Special Administrative Area,” and reaffirmed “my commitment to continue supporting the educational activities in the Area.”

She further expressed her “sympathies over the Antonov plane which lost control” and said: “It is good no death or causalities and the Examinations papers were secured.”