Peter Mayen Majongdit, a leader of the Umbrella Parties of the Other Opposition Parties (OPP) and former minister of humanitarian affairs and disaster management has rejected the appointment of Albino Atak as his replacement.
Two weeks ago, South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit appointed Albino Akol Atak as the new Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management after firing Majongdit last November. Akol is OPP’s spokesperson and Secretary-General of the African National Congress (ANC).
Before the formation of the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity in February 2022, the OPP split into two groups, one led by Kornelio Kon of the National Alliance and a group led by Mayen Majongdit of the Umbrella Parties.
Majongdit told Radio Tamazuj last week that his party rejects the appointment of Atak as the portfolio belongs to the Umbrella party.
“I am not against the appointment of Albino Atak to any position, but we refuse to appoint him to the seat of the Umbrella Party,” he said. “I expected that we, as a party, would be asked to hold a meeting and choose another alternative person to occupy the position, but we were surprised by a decision by the President of the Republic to appoint Albino Akol.”
Majongdit added that this procedure contradicts the provisions of the peace agreement, to which they are a party, describing it as a violation.
The peace agreement has allocated different portfolios to the different parties in the OPP, as part of a power-sharing deal.
However, leaders of the OPP coalition continue to accuse each other of unfairly sharing ministerial and parliamentary portfolios.