The Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), Edmond Yakani, has commended the dismissal of the long-serving Presidential Security Advisor and Head of the National Transitional Committee, Tut Gatluak Manime.
Yakani said that the move was a clear indicator that President Salva Kiir had realized that the old members of the National Transitional Committee (NTC), which is overseeing the 2018 peace deal, were sabotaging the genuine and timely implementation of the pending tasks.
On Friday, President Kiir sacked Gatluak as his security advisor and head of NTC.
The President then dissolved NTC which also comprised Mayik Ayii Deng, the Deputy Chairperson, Stephen Par Kuol, Minister of Peace Building, Secretary, and members Angelina Teny, Paul Mayom Akec, Salvatore Garang Mabiordit, Josephine Joseph Lagu (Minister for Agriculture and Food Security), Rizik Zachariah Hassan (Minister for Wildlife Conservation and Tourism) and Gen. Akol Koor Kuc.
He then reconstituted NTC, bringing on board Kuol Manyang Juuk, Senior Presidential Advisor as Chairperson, Chol Mawut Ajongo (Minister for Presidential Affairs) as Deputy Chairperson, Stephen Par Kuol (Minister of Peace Building), Secretary, and members Dr Benjamin Bol Mel, Senior Presidential Envoy on Special Programs, Chol Thon Balok, Minister of Defense and Veteran Affairs, Angelina Teny, Minister for Interior, Dr Marial Dongrin Ater, Minister of Finance, Josephine Joseph Lagu, Minister for Agriculture, Rizik Zachariah Hassan, Minister for Wildlife, and Akec Tong Aleu, Director General for Internal Security Bureau of the National Security Service (NSS), and Kuong Danhier.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, Yakani, urged the new leadership and members of NTC to demonstrate responsibility for genuine and timely implementation of the pending tasks of the revitalized peace agreement.
He asserted that there would be no more extension of the transitional period after September 22, 2026.
Separately, the Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA), a civil society organization, said it was deeply concerned about the reconstitution of NTC.
It pointed out that this previous committee struggled to carry out its activities on time due to conflicting interests.
“The CPA believed that the President would introduce new faces who would earn the trust of the South Sudanese people, donors, and the international community. Retaining the same individuals would undermine donor confidence and negatively affect public sentiment towards them. The country requires trustworthy leaders who are genuine and capable of making timely decisions on pressing issues,” the group said.
The 2018 agreement brought together President Salva Kiir and his rival First Vice President Riek Machar, but efforts to draft a permanent constitution and conduct the country’s first-ever general elections have been repeatedly delayed.
In September last year, the transitional government announced that it was again postponing polls planned for December 2024 by a further two years.