After a contentious reorganization, Acuei suspends the undersecretary.

Dr Victoria Anib Majur, the undersecretary in her docket, has been suspended by the national Minister of Health, Elizabeth Acuei.

Yesterday, Acuei issued a ministerial decree suspending Dr Majur and appointing Dr Samson Paul Baba to serve in her place in an acting capacity.

“In exercise of the powers conferred on me by Article 114 (2) (c) and Article 31 of the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan 2011 as amended, read in conjunction with Republican Decree No:222/2020, I, Hon. Minister Elizabeth Acuei Yol, Minister of Health, hereby issue a Ministerial Order… suspending Dr Victoria Anib Majur from her duties as Undersecretary in the Ministry of Health…

Dr. Samson Paul Baba will be the acting Undersecretary in the Ministry of Health,” she said, based in part on a ministerial directive obtained by the City Review yesterday.

The minister also ordered the establishment of a disciplinary board in line with the Civil Service Act and Regulations to examine the recent reorganisation that she just cancelled and report back to her in 90 days.

The order was released yesterday, despite the fact that it was issued on October 19.

Dr. Majur’s suspension comes following a disagreement between Vice President for Service Cluster Hussein Abdelbagi and Acuei about planned management changes at the Juba Teaching Hospital (JTH).

On October 10, Vice President Abdelbagi ordered Majur to “make all necessary adjustments in the administration of the Juba Teaching Hospital that may help in finding an amicable solution to the institution’s continuing issue.”

As a result, Majur made reassignments within the ministry affecting the directors and director generals, only for the minister to cancel the reappointments in Ministerial Order No 22/2021, calling them unlawful.

The South Sudan Union of Doctors (SSDU) petitioned President Salva Kiir on Tuesday to end the stalemate and preserve the medical sector’s reputation.

“The SSDU further asks on H E Salva Kiir Mayardit and the whole Presidency to act immediately, find a permanent solution to the disagreements, and put the MoH back on track,” the statement said in part.

“The SSDU expects that the Presidency would urge the MoH leadership to retain high integrity and professionalism as they carry out their mission for the benefit of South Sudan’s people.”