President Salva Kiir in a new decree has reappointed his business partner Benjamin Bol Mel to the board of directors of state-run oil company Nilepet and also promoted the current Managing Director – his former office manager – to a position on the board.
The move reinforces Kiir’s personal control of the company, which has been disbursing cash gifts to his relatives, political allies and chiefs and politicians from his home area.
Republican Order 32 removes Minister of Petroleum Stephen Dhieu Dau from the board of directors as well as Kengen Jarkur, Josephine Nopeon Cosmas, Salvatore Garang Mabiodit, and Paul Adong Bith.
In a second decree, Republican Order 33, Kiir appointed his former office manager Joseph Cleto Deng to the Nilepet board of directors while also reappointing his business partner Benjamin Bol Mel, National Security Director General Akol Kur Kuch, and others.
Benjamin Bol Mel is the president of ABMC construction, which sources earlier told Radio Tamazuj is at least part-owned by Salva Kiir himself.
Joseph Cleto Deng, the current managing director, was only recently appointed but he has already given away tens of thousands of dollars in cash to Salva Kiir’s cousin Thiik Thiik Mayardit, Sultan Marko Monydeng Akook, a chief from Salva Kiir’s home area of Akon North Payam, and other beneficiaries.
File photo: Benjamin Bol Mel
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