EXCLUSIVE | Disagreements emerge between Unity State governor, deputy

JUBA – Sharp disagreements have emerged between the governor of South Sudan’s Unity State, Nguen Manytuil Wijang, and his deputy Tor Tungwar Kweiguong over a number of issues including the sidelining by the governor of his opposition-nominated governor.

Speaking to Sudans Post exclusively on Thursday morning, a senior government official of Unity state said deputy governor Tor Tungwar has been sidelined by the governor on a number of issues in the decision-making cycle of the state executive.

“There have been many issues between the governor and the deputy governor and the government seems to be not careful in handing his government’s internal cooperation as provided for in the peace agreement,” the government official who requested not to be named said from Bentiu.

“For example, the governor has not given a car to the deputy governor who has been moving with a rented car since he was appointed as deputy governor as stated in the September 2018 peace agreement signed by the parties,” the official said.

Separately, an opposition official who is also in Bentiu as a state minister confirmed to Sudans Post the differences and said the governor has been taking decisions unilaterally without the collegial decision-making mechanism provided for in the peace agreement and also reiterated by President Salva Kiir.

“The peace agreement is clear that any decision made by the executive should be collegial. The same thing has been confirmed and reiterated many times by the President of the Republic, but the governor is acting contrary to the presidential directives,” the official said.

“This now threatens the peaceful environment of cooperation between the honorable governor and the honorable deputy governor of Unity state and we call on the president to interfere,” the official said.

The official further said Mr. Tor has traveled to Kenya and has refused to stay in Bentiu where he is being sidelined despite being the deputy governor “because what can you do where you are not considered.”