The Northern Bahr al Ghazal branch of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement has sacked several state employees for receiving the embattled Caretaker Governor Kuel Aguer Kuel.
Kuel has been in a power struggle with allies of former Northern Bahr al Ghazal governor Paul Malong, who retained his chairmanship of the state SPLM party after becoming the Army Chief of General Staff.
According to the letter dated 27 January 2015, the dismissed workers are protection officer at the state secretariat Yel Yel Aleu, head of the workers and protocol Aguer Wol Aguer, security guard Baak Chan Kuol, and generator operator Dau Deng Tong.
The letter, signed by the assistant branch secretary general in the state for finance and administration Stephen Ayaga Azubier attributed the decision to financial constraints.
However, several officials and lawmakers in the state parliament claimed the decision was politically motivated.
According to Yel Yel, one of the affected officials, he and his colleagues were fired after being individually threatened. They were each called into their supervisor’s office and asked to explain why they attended a reception for caretaker governor Kuel.
Yel said that in an abrupt and heated meating, the state party’s Deputy Secretary General Jok Lual Mawein told them: “Who asked you to go and receive Kuel Aguer? Don’t you know his membership has been terminated and the assembly has impeached him? He is no longer the legitimate governor for you to go and attend the reception. You will see.”
After that, Mawein served the workers with dismissal letters, Yel alleged, a move which suprised the veteran staffer who claimed to have carried out his duties for years without complaint.
“One thing which surprised me was the manner in which the dismissal was made,” Yel explained. “First, we were threatened and later we were served with dismissal letters. I have served at the SPLM secretariat for seven years and nine months. There were really hard times, especially when we have to spend nine months without being paid when the austerity measure was imposed after the oil was shut down. We did not complain. Also my salary was reduced from 800 south Sudanese to 600, later to 500 and then 400 and I never complained even when there was no explanation.”
Meanwhile, Gabriel Bol Dut, head of the SPLM youth wing in Aweil, argued that the collective dismissal of the workers was designed to mask this intention and to mitigate any ramifications that might stoke political temperatures between the officials and the supporters.
Members of the state parliament claim to have impeached Kuel earlier this year. However, Kuel and his supporters rejected the vote of no confidence.
Related:
Corruption at heart of Aweil political crisis (5 Feb.)
File photo: Northern Bahr al Ghazal state SPLM chairman Paul Malong