South Sudan National Youth Union Chairperson Taban Paride has issued a provisional order reinstating Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Youth Union Chairperson Tito Awen Bol who was impeached on 28 November 2023 following a directive from former governor Tong Akeen Ngor.
Awen was officially elected as the state youth union chairperson on 10 October 2022. After the polls, he was arrested several times after many charges were brought against him. Observers however contend that the charges were politically motivated to block him from office.
Late last year, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Youth Union delegates, under the influence of the former governor, impeached Awen and appointed Garang Akuei Deng locally as the interim chairperson of the union.
Events leading up to the youth leader’s reinstatement started when President Salva Kiir fired Governor Tong Akeen Ngor on 24 June and appointed Brigadier General Simon Ober Mawut in his place. An investigation team headed by National Youth Union Chairperson Taban Paride arrived in the state on 19 July and promised to come up with a final resolution on the matter.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday evening, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, Bol Akuar Gamar, said the National Youth Union in Juba took similar steps as his ministry and nullified Awen’s impeachment. He blamed the former governor for misusing his gubernatorial powers to interfere in youth affairs.
“The order by the South Sudan National Youth Union for the reinstatement of Mr. Tito Awen Bol, the Chairperson for Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Youth Union, may be corresponding with the earlier ministerial order passed by the state Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sports annulling the impeachment of Mr. Awen by the youth union,” he stated. “But the former Governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, Tong Akeen Ngor, forcefully removed him from the office after confirming the impeachment.”
For his part, Awen said he was aware that what was happening in the past was wrong and remained hopeful that it would be corrected.
“I am really grateful because what was happening all along was a joke and I knew that one day the truth must be revealed and here now the truth is revealed!” he said. “I am happy with the Government of South Sudan, the leadership of the South Sudan National Youth Union, the Government of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, and the youth of the state for their resilience because they were pushed to be divided and fight themselves but they refused. They (youth) have historical peace from their forefathers who were not educated and how come they fight themselves and they are educated?”
On his part, the former interim chairperson of the Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Youth Union, Garang Akuei Deng, said he was surprised by the resolution issued by the South Sudan National Youth Union Chairperson Taban Paride.
“It was a surprise to me when I saw a letter written by the South Sudan National Youth Union Chairperson Mr. Taban Paride,” he stated. “I am currently very far from the state headquarters, so, I do not have any response now and we will respond as a team after consultations are concluded with my team.”