The recently established People’s Liberal Party (PLP) has called on the South Sudanese government to organize elections in states which are being administered by caretaker governors, including Northern Bahr al Ghazal State where there has been a rift within the ruling party.

Four of South Sudan's ten governors are appointed and not elected. According to the constitution, elections must be held within 60 days in case a caretaker government is appointed. In spite of this requirement, in each case the appointee continued ruling as de facto governor after expiry of his term.

Those who continued past their terms include Unity State Caretaker Governor Joseph Monytuil, Jonglei Caretaker Governor John Koang, Lakes Caretaker Governor Matur Chut and Northern Bahr al Ghazal Caretaker Governor Kuel Aguer who was removed this week and replaced by another caretaker.

In response to this, Liberal Party Chairman Peter Mayen Majongdit announced that his party's position is that people should be allowed to exercise their democratic right to elect their own leaders.

He said that elections can begin in the peaceful states, referring specifically to Northern Bhar al Ghazal and Lakes. He said the other two states with unelected governors – Jonglei and Unity – can have elections after security improves.

“The people of Northern Bahr El-Ghazal can have their space to elect their Governor whom they believe in; somebody who they will respect rather than changing caretakers from time to time,” said Mayen, speaking on the UN radio station in South Sudan.

“The same thing applies to Lakes State – you can have elections in Lakes State. Then when relative peace returns you can have elections in Unity and Jonglei States,” he said.

For his part, Presidential Spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny argued that the government has not violated the constitution in failing to organize the elections for new governors.

“No, the president has not violated the constitution; there is a law that can be applied. The reason why the elections were not conducted were so many – one of them being insecurity, the second being the ability of some of those states to be conducted in time, within 60 days...” he said.

He insisted the president has the 'prerogative' to appoint and dismiss governors so as not to have a political vacuum. Ateny was also speaking to the UN Radio Miraya.

Photo: Peter Mayen Majongdit