Atong Manyuat, member of parliament of the newly created Gogrial state, has welcomed on Wednesday her selection as the first speaker of the state legislative assembly.
“I am happy for my selection by the members and I want to thank them and the government of Gogrial state, especially our governor, Comrade Abraham Gum and his deputy, Comrade Akot Abiem, for their support to honour and respect the desire and voice of the women to be included in the decision making,” she said when reached for comment on her selection.
She added, “I welcomed the selection and I look forward to working with everybody.”
Atong said her competence for the position stems from years of experience working in parliament for more than ten years. Gabino Kiir Madut was selected as the deputy speaker.
Gabino Kiir said his appointment was based on his competence because he was a deputy speaker in the assembly of the now defunct Warrap State from which the state was carved out when President Salva Kiir divided up the state into three parts.
He said he had not contested for the top seat because it was clear that he would not win it because the governor comes from his area, which meant the positions of deputy governor and speaker should come from other areas as a way of power-sharing among communities.
Gogrial 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