Jonglei State Governor Mahjoub Biel Turuk and his deputy, Atong Kuol Manyang Juuk, have agreed to bury their differences and recommitted to working together following the recent rift.
Last week, it became apparent that there was a divide in the state’s top leadership. This was after Governor Biel dissolved a committee formed by his deputy to address last month’s deadly inter-clan fighting in the remote town of Langkien. According to the governor, his decision was informed by his deputy’s alleged insubordination and the way she formed the committee was nonprocedural.
“In her order, there is a contradiction because she called it a State High-Level Committee while she added national members of parliament. The question that begs itself is, where in the system of governance should state parliamentarians lead the national MPs?” Majoub Biel asked. “The administrative order was issued without prior consultation with the state leadership in the person of the governor who is in the country.”
The latest political development was hailed as a worrying trend, with a civil society activist warning of dire consequences for the local population and demanding that the differences be addressed immediately.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Sunday, Nyamar Lony, the state information minister, said the two leaders ironed out their differences and agreed to reconcile during a cabinet meeting Friday.
“Governor Mahjoub Biel Turuk and his deputy, Atong Kuol, have had some misunderstanding on administrative and political issues, but during the council of ministers’ meeting that we had on Friday, they addressed these issues and have reconciled and recommitted to working together through understanding and consultations,” she explained.
Minister Nyamar, who also serves as the state government mouthpiece, called for restraint among the local population and urged them to support the government for effective service delivery, saying the recent political development was triggered by a mere misunderstanding.
“The recent problem was due to a misunderstanding. We have been working together for a long time without any issues but finally governor and deputy agreed to work together before the cabinet,” she stated. “As a government, we want to assure our citizens of Jonglei State that we will work together for peace and stability.”