Deng Deng Akuei, governor of the newly established Aweil East State, has issued an order appointing six cabinet ministers after earlier appointing his deputy and three advisors.

Aweil East is one of the five counties of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, which President Salva Kiir is seeking to dissolve and replace with three successor states. The area is exclusively inhabited by members of the Abiem section of the Dinka Malual ethinc group.

According to the governor's order announced on Tuesday, Abuor Gordon Nhial is appointed as the minister of local government and law enforcement agencies.

Other officials include William Ater Lual as minister of information, Ayuel Yai Deng as minister of agriculture, Peter Akoon Maluil as minister of finance, Garang Malong Awan as minister of education and Yak Malong Akec as minister of physical infrastructure. 

The governor left the ministry of health to be occupied by a nominee of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition. He also did not yet appoint county commissioners and no speaker of the state legislative assembly has been elected by the members. 

Aweil East State is one of 28 states created by President Salva Kiir by decree but challenged as unconstitutional by a coalition of opposition parties.

Monitors of the peace agreement have called the creation of the 28 states a “violation” of the peace agreement. Salva Kiir says the 28 states are the demand of the people.

File photo: Aweil East County Headquarters (Radio Tamazuj)

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Abiem community splits over headquarters of proposed Aweil East State (13 Nov. 2015)