Garang Diing Akuong, former minister of commerce and investment, has defended the presidential decisions announced yesterday, saying that they will bring about a leaner government.

The entire cabinet and the vice president were dismissed yesterday evening by decree announced over state radio, without any decision yet on their replacements, after which security presence was reinforced in parts of Juba.

In an interview with Radio Tamazuj, Diing said that the decrees were constitutional, and that the move was within the mandate of the president.

The politician said that he expects a leaner government that will deliver more services to the citizens.

It is also expected that in the coming reshuffle the number of ministries will be reduced. According to Diing, the president is now consulting top party members on the formation of the government.

The former minister declined to comment about when the announcement of a new government might be made. Asked whether he expects to be part of the upcoming government, he said he thought he was doing well in his ministry but noted that it was the president to judge.

Akuong, who hails from Northern Bahr al-Ghazal, formerly served as the minister of energy and mining. He was one of six ministers appointed by the president in early 2012 to form an austerity committee.