South Sudan President Salva Kiir has made a mini reshuffle in the coalition government and dropped the Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Governor and National Minister of Trade and Industry.
President Kiir, through a presidential decree issued Monday night, sacked Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Governor Tong Akeen Ngor and replaced him with Uber Ajonga Mawut.
The President also relieved National Minister of Trade and Industry William Anyuon Kuol and appointed Amb. Joseph Moum Majak in his place. Mr. Moum was serving as South Sudanese ambassador to Egypt.
The sacked officials had been nominated by Kiir’s party, the Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM).
The South Sudanese leader did not give reasons for the changes, only citing presidential powers enshrined in the Constitution and provisions of the 2018 peace deal.
However, the minister of trade was recently put to task by Parliament over the impounding of South Sudan fish in neighbouring Uganda.
Two weeks ago, Kuol blamed the impounding of the South Sudan fish by Ugandan authorities on the failure to meet export regulations, a claim challenged by South Sudanese fish traders.
The fish, en route to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was offloaded in Uganda, leaving the traders stranded and concerned about their safety and the perishable goods.