South Sudan government has confirmed the resignation of Minister of Labour, Public Service and Human Resource Development Gabriel Duop Lam after media reports surfaced of his resignation on Friday morning.

Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, who was a senior member of the SPLM-IO faction allied to First Vice President Taban Deng in Juba, was the labour minister in the unity government in Juba.

Speaking to reporters in Juba on Friday, Michael Makuei Lueth, Minister of Information said: “The Minister of Labour, Public Service and Human Resource Development, Mr. Gabriel Duop Lam, has defected, and earlier of course, as you know his deputy defected. So, the Ministry of Public Service at present is being run by the undersecretary."

Makuei further said the SPLM-IO leadership in Juba will issue a press statement on the resignation of Gen. Gabriel Duop from the unity government.

The labour ministry was given to the SPLM-IO when South Sudan's government, rebels, former detainees, and other political parties, divided up the ministries for the country's transitional power-sharing government in line with the 2015 peace deal.

In a resignation letter on Friday, Gebrial Duop Lam, cited frustration with the unity government’s inability to tackle the country's problems.

Duop also announced his defection from the SPLM-IO faction allied to Taban Deng Gai and joined Riek Machar’s group.

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South Sudan labour minister resigns, cites frustration

Photo: Minister Michael Makuei speaks to reporters in Juba on 17 February, 2017