VP Abdelbagi, Health Minister saga: I was advised by VP Abdelbaggi to do the re-structuring -Dr. Victoria Anib Majur

Dr. Victoria Anib Majur, in response to her recent suspension by the health minister, said that she was not informed of the grounds for her suspension, but mentioned that Vice President Abdelbaggi urged her to restructure since there was a major issue due to a strike by health officials.

Also, she further mentioned in a report seen by NCMP that some people believe she is undermining the minister, but she wasn’t in the country. She broached that she took that decision based on the situation on the ground – physicians were on strike and patients were dying. Dr. Victoria further explained that the situation can’t be held for someone to return from the United States. She concluded she doesn’t think taking such steps should warrant her suspension.

When she restructured roles for Directors at the Ministry of Health while the Minister was in the United States, Dr. Anib said she did not undercut the minister.

She disputed accusations of insubordination leveled by other news sources.

Dr. Anib went on to say that Health Minister Elizabeth Acuei did not give her a reason or enough time to explain herself. It is unclear if Undersecretary Victoria Anib Majur discussed the move with Minister Elizabeth Acuei.

Recently, South Sudan’s National Minister of Health, Elizabeth Acuei Yol, suspended the Undersecretary of her ministry, Dr. Victoria Anib Majur, without explanation on Wednesday. She then named Dr. Samson Paul Baba as the Ministry of Health’s Acting Undersecretary.

“In the exercise of the powers conferred upon me under Article 114 (2) (c) and Article 31 of the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan 2011 (as amended), read together with the Republican Decree No: 222/2020, I Hon. Elizabeth Acuei Yol, Minister for Health, do hereby issue this Ministerial Order suspending Dr. Victoria Anib Majur from her duties as the Undersecretary for the Ministry of Health,” Minister Achuei said in a statement seen

Acuei also requested the establishment of a disciplinary board to conduct an investigation and report to the minister within 90 days, as required by the Civil Service Act and Regulations. She also ordered that the order be carried out by the newly constituted Acting Undersecretary.

While Minister Elizabeth Acuei was attending the UN General Assembly in the United States, Minister Acuei returned to the nation on Friday and promptly revoked the order of the Undersecretary, reorganizing important posts of Directors in the Ministry of Health.