South Sudan president promises ex-petroleum minister two “high-profile” positions in unity gov’t  

JUBA – South Sudan president, Salva Kiir Mayardit, has promised former petroleum minister Dak Duop Bichiok two high-profile positions in the revitalized unity government following a meeting at the presidency on Monday, officials close to Duop said.

Duop who recently defected from the SPLM-IO led by first vice president Riek Machar for turning the main armed opposition group into a “family dynasty” met President Kiir at the State House “J1” on Monday and the two discussed the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.

Speaking to Nyamilepedia on Tuesday, a senior member of Dak Duop’s group said the former senior SPLM-IO member has been promised with two positions by the South Sudanese head of state in the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU).

“Hon. Dak Duop has been promised to get two high-profile positions in the revitalized transitional government by His Excellency the President of the Republic,” the official who refused to be named said from Juba.

The official however said arrangements will be made in order for the promise to be effected adding that “the president has not provided any timeframe but we are confidence that the arrangement which he told us will be effected in the near future.”

Following the Monday meeting with President Kiir on Monday afternoon, Duop renewed attack on the SPLM-IO leader Dr. Riek Machar questioning why people were still loyal to him as he turned the movement into a personal property.

Duop is one of a number of senior SPLM-IO officials who left the Machar-led movement this year. He and his group were preceded by former SPLA-IO deputy chief of general staff Gen. Koang Chuol Ranley who also accused the main armed opposition leader of turning the movement into a family business.

Some of the SPLM-IO officials who defected with General Koang however returned to Machar late last week accusing the defectors of working to derail the implementation of provisions of the revitalized peace and more importantly the security arrangements which is crucial for the stability of the world’s youngest nation.