South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit has issued an order removing the deputy governor of Upper Nile State.
President Kiir, through a presidential decree issued Monday night, sacked Deputy Governor of Upper Nile State James Tor Monybuny and replaced him with Dak Tap Chuol, who formerly served as Commissioner of Nasir County.
The sacked deputy governor had been nominated by President Kiir party’s, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).
Mr Monybuny was appointed to the position in January 2021.
The South Sudanese leader did not give reasons for the change, only citing presidential powers enshrined in the transitional constitution and the 2018 peace agreement.
However, there had been some incidents in the state that showed that Governor Obudhok Ayang and his deputy Monybuny could not work in a collegial manner.
In April 2021, President Salva Kiir expressed disappointment in some governors and their deputies over the manner in which they were managing state affairs.
He cited poor cooperation and a high trust deficit between the governors and their deputies, and some senior officials of the same government.
Kiir stated that he learned that in some states, governors and their deputies often disagreed over issues of appointments, and government functions.