Tong Akeen welcomes sacking as Northern Bahr el Ghazal governor

JUBA – The outgoing governor of South Sudan’s Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, Tong Akeen Ngor, has welcomed President Salva Kiir’s decision to remove him from office.

In a presidential decree read on state-owned South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) on Monday night, Kiir dismissed Ngor and replaced him with Simon Uber Ajongo Mawut.

Ajongo is the younger brother of former army chief James Ajongo Mawut who died while undergoing treatment in Egypt in April 2018.

The president also dismissed the national minister of trade and industry, William Anyuon Kuol, and appointed South Sudan’s ambassador to Egypt, Joseph Muom Majak, in his place.

In a statement, Ngor welcomed his replacement, and thanked Kiir for his cooperation with him.

“It is with heartfelt appreciation for the period you gave me to govern the defunct Aweil State and Northern Bahr el Ghazal State respectively,” Ngor said in the statement statement released shortly after his sacking.

“I appreciate you with my sincerity and I cheer your cooperation within these years and that I am happy I was able to deliver the services needed to my people without distinction and reservation with all these limited resources.

“I am very much appreciative of the cooperation that I had with you and the whole membership of both the state and SPLM National Secretariat office of our party and all comrades in the party. It was a great chance to showcase my ability to my people,” he added.

Ngor assured President Kiir of his support and urged the people of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State to support the new governor and Kiir’s leadership.

“Let me assure you of my support and commitment to you and the nation as a whole, and that I will be ready to cooperate and serve this nation in other capacities as well. I ask all my good people of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State in general to rally behind the leadership of His Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit and our mighty party, SPLM.

“Moreover, I would also want to encourage the people of South Sudan to foster the spirit of peace and to help our president in promoting coexistence among our people. Let me also assure my comrade, my successor, Governor Simon Uber Mawut, that I will be supporting your leadership and am available at any time for any assistance you need from me,” he concluded.

Ngor, hailing from Mayom Wel Payam, is a former member of the NCP.

He was a member of parliament in Khartoum on the ticket of the then-ruling party, but never held any significant political office until his appointment as governor of Aweil State in 2019 after joining the SPLM party in 2016.