South Sudan President Announces Unity Government

Yara Sameh

South Sudan President Salva Kiir announced Thursday the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGONU).

The list of the new cabinet included Angelina Teny as defense minister, making her the first female to be appointed as a minister for the first time in the country.

On February 22, President Kiir appointed his first vice-president and four other vice-presidents establishing a sort of collective leadership with clear attributions to everyone as provided in the revitalized peace pact.

However, discussions to form the cabinet took more time, as the peace partners of the SPLM-IO and the SSOA complained that the president and his entourage wanted to keep the most important ministries for them.

The participation of women should be at 35% in the executive, according to the peace agreement. The SPLM-IG has to appoint six women, the SPLM-IO three at least and the SSOA women. The latter gave the Ministry of Agriculture Josephine Lagu.

Another young minister appointed by the SPLM-IO in the national unity government is Manawa Peter Gatkuoth who takes the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation. He served as the SPLM-IO Deputy Chairperson of the National Committee for Information and Public Relations.

For the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) Babgasi Joseph Bakasoro has been appointed Minister of Public Service and Human Resources Development, also Deny Jock Chagor has become the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology.

SSOA Secretary-General Lam Akol, in a statement issued on Thursday, said that the quota of the alliance initially included the ministries of Peace Building, Public Service and Human Resource Development and the Deputy Minister in Interior.

He added that they were not informed about the final ministerial positions of the SSOA.

Below is the full list of the national unity government:

1. Hon. Martin Elia Lomoro, Cabinet affairs

2. Hon. Beatrice Khamis a Wani, foreign affair

3. Hon. Angelina Teny, defence

4. Hon. Michael Makuei, information

5. Hon. Madol Arol, Justice

6. Hon. Rizik Zakaria, Wild Life Conservation and Tourism

7. Hon. Puot Dak Kang, Petroleum

7. Hon. Paul Mayom, Interior

8. Hon. Stephen Par, PeaceBuilding

9. Hon. Garang Mabiordit, Finance