The governor of Jonglei State, Denay Jock Chagor, has appointed Muhammad Chuol Yien Thoan as the Director-General of the Ministry of Information in Jonglei State.

Thoan was appointed by gubernatorial order No. 7/2022 AD, dated January 17, 2022.

Sources revealed that the former Director-General of the Ministry of Information, Duol Kuey Deng, did not report since his appointment, hence warranting his replacement.

When contacted by The City Review, Jonglei State Secretary-General, Dr Gatwech Koak Nyuon, declined to speak as he was in a meeting.

Denay faced stiff criticism last year after he replaced all the director-generals in all the state ministries.

Critics decried the sharing ratio of the representation of all the counties across the state and accused him of appointing the majority as his tribesmen.

 “Was the ratio not supposed to be Greater Bor (5), Greater Fangak (5), Greater Akobo (5) and Pigi County (2)?” Juuk asked in a Facebook post. “In this list, Greater Bor is having two DGs (Director Generals) only (No. 4 and 10). No 11 is from Pigi County. Other 14 DGs are from Greater Fangak and Greater Akobo,” said Kuol Juuk, a resident in the state.

An activist in the state, Bol Deng Bol, said the governor had violated the peace agreement on principles of inclusivity, diversity, equity and 35 per cent affirmative action.

“Article 1.18.9 and 1.4.6 of R-ARCSS 2018 states that institutions and mechanisms that are necessary for the establishment of RTGoNU provided for in this agreement shall be established or reconstituted during the pre-transitional period, taking into consideration inclusivity and national diversity of the people of South Sudan,” Bol said.

He appealed to the governor and the deputy governor of Jonglei State, Antipas Nyok, to revoke the order to replace some directors with women.

Petition

This prompted the Jonglei State Workers’ Trade Union to issue a 72-hour ultimatum to the governor to revoke his decree appointing director-generals in late October.

The union threatened to take serious steps when the governor refused to reverse his decision, which was viewed as prone to irregularities.

 “We write to urge your leadership to consider this appeal and act accordingly within three days (72 hours) upon receiving this petition, failure to do the needful; the Workers’ Trade Union will be left with no option but to exploit other measures within our reach,” they stated.

“It is, therefore, upon this understanding on realising how non-procedural this order is, that the leadership of WTU, on behalf of the entire Jonglei Civil Servants, hereby petitions your esteemed office to unconditionally revoke the Gubernatorial Order NO. 4/2021.”

The petition letter described the procedures of appointing the director-generals as a violation of public service laws that regulate employment, adding that it is in the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan that the ministers must be involved, as well as recognising the academic merits of the people to be appointed.

Appointment

The state director-generals were appointed on October 21, 2021, by a Gubernatorial Decree. Governor Chagor cited article 99 (2) (a) of the Transitional Constitution of the government of Jonglei State, 2011.

Biel Mayen Yuel was appointed as the Director-General in the State Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, while Bashir Deng Kuar was appointed as the Director-General in the State Ministry of Local Government and Law Enforcement.

Puok Nyang Tutjiek was appointed into the State Ministry of Peace Building as its Director-General, while Samuel Lazaro was appointed as the Director-General in the State Ministry of Parliamentary and Legal Affairs.

Duol Kuey Deng was appointed as the Director-General in the State Ministry of Information and Communication, while Mathew Puol Ruot was appointed into the State Ministry of Cultures, Youths and Sports as its Director-General.

Chuol Lony Yian was appointed as the Director-General in the State Ministry of Finance, Planning and Investment, while Dak Makuach Thai was appointed as Director-General in the State Ministry of Trade and Industries.

Billy Peter Chuol was appointed as the Director-General of the State Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Forestry, while Geu Wunthony Gak was appointed into the State Ministry of Animal Resources, Fisheries and Tourism.

Mayian Biel Deng has been appointed to the position of Director-General of the State Ministry of Housing, Lands, and Public Utilities.

Dagash Pathot Guok was appointed into the State Ministry of Roads and Bridges as its Director-General, while Pur Thok Gok was appointed as Director-General in the State Ministry of Labour, Public Services, and Human Resources Development.

Chol Kueth Kulong was appointed as the Director-General in the State Ministry of Health, while Ruot Yoal Nyuon was appointed as Director-General in the State Ministry of General Education and Instruction.

Elijah Mayen Lul was appointed as the Director-General of the State Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare.