South Sudan President Salva Kiir has been petitioned by a group of twenty members close to his administration to remove foreign minister, Deng Alor Kuol from the office, claiming the minister was working against him.
The group, according to the October 19, 2017, letter seen by Radio Tamazuj, claimed Deng Alor was the one behind the political crisis which has created a dangerous situation by telling former vice president turned rebel leader Riek Machar, leader of former detainees, Pagan Amum and other SPLM cadres that President Salva Kiir was not going to run for presidency in 2015.
The minister Deng, the group alleged in the petition, backed up his plot by telling political aspirants that he was in a meeting in which President Kiir told former South African President Thabo Mbeki that he would not run in 2015 as the flag bearer of the SPLM Party.
The group also brought up nine point allegations against the foreign minister as basis for their call.
“Now that Deng Alor does not hide his position in calling for the removal of President Kiir, is there a justification for him to continue as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of TGONU? Since he is campaigning for dissolution of the executive branch of the TGONU, is there any legal reason for the President not to relieve him from his position to face charges of treason?”
It continued: “The argument of those who are stating that President Salva Kiir cannot remove Mr. Deng Alor because of ARCISS has no constitutional backing and those people have not properly read the ARCISS. There is no provision in the agreement which condones any crime let alone high crimes of treason. Most importantly, the ARCISS does not invalidate South Sudan Penal Code and cannot prevent the head of state to remove a member of FDs who violated criminal laws.”
The signatories of the petition are Dr. Oliver Wani Peter, John Tut Puoc, Atem Barkuei Atem, Abdhalla Ibrahim Rasas, Elizabeth Nyakuoth Kueth, Daniel Abraham Wani and Dau Malong Garang.
The other members are Martha Nyandeng Atem, Mathok Riak Atem, Dr. Oromo Paterno, Peter Duku Cirilo, James Gak Riak, Ambrose Yak Gau, Lam Lual Akol, Aban James Ukel, Sebrino Atem Yak, Peter Nyuon Deng, William Abdhalla Wani, Garang Nhial Garang and Isiah Chol Deng.