Kiir sacked Upper Nile Governor Budhok as well as a number of SPLM-IO state officials.
NCMP
January 27, 2023
In a series of Presidential decrees issued Thursday evening, President Salva Kiir removed the governor of Upper Nile State and certain top SPLM-IO members in many states.
Kiir ousted governor Budhok Ayang Kur and nominated James Odhok as the new governor of Upper Nile state in the first decree read on state-owned television, SSBC.
Budhok was appointed in January 2021, at this period.
His selection ended a protracted standoff between President Kiir and his first deputy, Dr. Riek Machar, over a governor candidate.
Following his appointment, President Salva Kiir charged him with restoring security and stability in the oil-rich but war-torn country.
However, the restive area remained the most turbulent in the nation in recent months, embroiled in inter-communal violence. Budhok’s successor was the Chairperson of the Upper Nile State SPLM-IO National Committee for Culture, Youth, and Sports.
Kiir also removed Yoane Jek Guop, Unity State Advisor on Gender, Child, and Social Welfare, but did not appoint a successor.
Kiir relieved James Tunguar, Minister of Animal Resources, Fisheries, and Tourism; James Gatluak Wichar Nyak, Ruknona County Commissioner; and Charles Wal, Unity State Anti-Corruption Commissioner in the same state.
Lony Majier was then appointed as Unity State Minister of Animal Resources, Fisheries, and Tourism by President Kiir.
He also replaced Gatluak Wichar Nyak as Rukona County Commissioner with Dhol Khoriom Liling, and Kuo Majok as Unity State Anti-Corruption Commissioner with Charles Wal.
Kiir then appointed Bol Akot Agok to replace Andrew Achieng, the Commissioner of Yirol County in Lakes States, who had resigned.
Still, in Lakes, Kiir replaced state Employee Justice Chamber Chairperson Majur Deng with Lino Kum Ngor.
Two SPLM-IO members, Jesus Deng Atem and Jok Alor Assembly, who represented Jonglei State and Abyei Administrative Area, respectively, in the Revitalized Transitional National Legislative, had their seats canceled.
They were succeeded by Angok Bol Deng and Amin Kiir Del, respectively.
The Thursday evening decision also resulted in the removal of two Eastern Equatoria State SPLM-IO MPs, Karlo Peter Lolip and John Lokale Lomodo. Barnabas Loleng Lotumo and Joel Nanok Nanakuru have taken their places.
Meanwhile, two other officials have been affected: Hilary Claudio Musa, Western Bahr el Ghazal State’s Peace and Security Advisor, and MP Marko Peter in the state parliament.
