The Northern Bahr al Ghazal Women’s Union says the governor is not following the state’s constitution because he did not give 25% of government positions to women.
Last month, caretaker governor Kuel Aguer Kuel reshuffled the state cabinet and county commissioners, but there are only two women in his administration, Radio Tamazuj has learned. One is the Minister of Social Welfare Ajak Michael. The other is Aweil Mayor Jackeline Nyibol.
Ayak Zecheria, Chairperson of the Women’s Union, told Radio Tamazuj that her organization is demanding Kuel fully implement gender balance.
“Since the formation of the new government in Aweil nothing’s new to the women until now,” she said. “We have a woman in the cabinet but we are still asking the governor to consider the state constitution that granted women 25% for any kind of representation.”
Ayak said with such low representation of females, the state government has not accomplished much for women.
“I don’t see any changes happening to women until now,” she said.
The union leader said there was a plan by the chamber of commerce to give money to women between 18 and 21 to start businesses, but “very few” have received any grants and the program may have collapsed.
However, she said the state governor asked the Aweil mayor to locate a new market for women to use, and the project is being worked on.
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Reshuffle of N. Bahr al Ghazal State government
File photo: Caretaker Governor Kuel Aguer