Ronald Ruay Deng, head of the newly established Aweil State government, has issued several orders appointing his deputy and members of his cabinet.
Aweil State is one of the states created in South Sudan through presidential establishment order in October 2015, when President Salva Kiir unilaterally divided up the country to expand from the constitutionally recognized 10 states to 28 states.
Governor Ruay, according to the broadcast by South Sudan television, has appointed Ubera Mawut Unguec Ajonga as his deputy.
In another order, he appointed Jel Mangok Jel as security advisor and Stephen Ayaga as political advisor. Former speaker of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Legislative Assembly Isaac Makau Ayok was named advisor for development.
Akol Wol Mawien was appointed minister of physical infrastructure, Ajak Michael minister of local government and law enforcement agencies, Garang Majak Bol, minister of finance. Andrew Bol Buola was named Aweil town mayor and the former secretary general of former Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Akol Ayom Wek was appointed commissioner of the state revenue authority.
Other officials include James Mawien as information minister, Awien Wol Mawien, minister of health and Athon Mawut Unguec Ajonga as minister of agriculture.
The appointments by the Aweil State governor come in spite of an appeal by the East African IGAD bloc that the government halt actions toward the establishment of 28 states in South Sudan, which has been called by the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission a “violation” of the peace deal.