A section of Warrap state residents have expressed their displeasure at President Salva Kiir’s revocation of former long-serving spy chief Akol Koor Kuc’s appointment as governor of the state.
Last week, President Kiir removed Gen Kuc from the Chief of Intelligence position and appointed him the governor of the restive Warrap State.
In a strange turn of events, however, the President revoked the governor appointment on Wednesday, immediately upon Kuc’s arrival from Dubai. The President appointed Francis Marial Abur as the new governor of Warrap State Governor, in an announcement on the South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) television.
Abuk Mayik, a resident of Warrap, told Radio Tamazuj Friday that the former spy chief should have been given the chance to serve the Warrap residents.
“My opinion is that the former spy chief was welcome and should have been given a chance to serve the people. It is not good to appoint someone then revoke the appointment before he has served,” she said.
Mayuk said Kuc was better placed to combat the Warrap State security challenges, considering his security service background.
Lual Malueth from the University of Juba said Kuc would have addressed some of the security challenges but noted that President Kiir knows why he made the decision.
“The community of Warrap welcomed his appointment with the hope that he would restore peace and tranquillity in the fragile state because of his experience in security affairs,” he said.
“Maybe something went wrong or the President has promised him another important position. It is the sole responsibility and the prerogative of the Presidency to decide so,” Malueth added.
Christine Agat said Kuc wound have improved security on the streets of Kuajok town and other parts of the state had the President given him the chance to serve.
“I am not happy about the President revoking the appointment when we were waiting to welcome Kuc in Warrap State. I don’t know the reason for the President’s decision but I believe Kuc would have solved the problem of the street children in and around the Kuajok market and other towns,” she said.
The Chairperson of Warrap State Civil Society Alliance (WASCA) Bona Malual said it was the responsibility of the President to do what he did.
“Regarding the revocation of Akol Koor Kuc’s appointment by a presidential decree, it is the responsibility of President Kiir to do so. We do not know what happened there but all the residents of Warrap state welcomed the appointment of Kuc,” he said.
“People loved that decision and you have seen the huge turnout at the Juba International Airport (JIA) on his return from Dubai. People were hoping that the big issues of insecurity would be resolved,” he added.