Dispute emerges between E. Equatoria governor, deputy over unilateral appointments

JUBA – Disagreements have emerged between the governor of South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria state governor Louis Lobong Lojore and his deputy Mary Alphonse Lodira over unilateral appointments by the government without consultation with the deputy.

Louis is one of the six governors appointed on the ticket of the ruling SPLM faction led by President Salva Kiir Mayardit, while Alphonse is the deputy governor representing the main armed opposition group led by Dr. Riek Machar Teny.

On Friday, June 25, Governor Lobong appointed Secretary-General and deputy commissioner-general for the state Insurance Regulatory Commission in the state capital Torit.

This angered his deputy Alphonse who doubles as the SPLM-IO chairperson in the state who claims she was not consulted by the governor based on the guidelines given by the top leadership of the peace parties in Juba.

“The leadership of the SPLM-IO in Equatoria State calls on the governor to revoke his decision and considered consultation with partners to the revitalized peace agreement for equal representation in different institutions of the government,” Alphonse said in a statement extended to Sudans Post on Sunday.

Alphonse blames Lobong for not following due process as stipulated in the September 2018 revitalized peace agreement.

“The leadership of the Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) in Eastern Equatoria State in strongest terms possible condemn and reject a unilateral decision taken by the state Governor Luis Lobong Lojore on the recent and previous appointments,” she stated.

She disclosed that this is not the first-time Governor Louis appointed officials without consulting her and other peace partners in the state.

“The unilateral decisions taken by the governor are direct and blatant contravention of the Revitalized Peace Agreement and especially the principles of responsibility sharing,” she said.

“It is also against presidential directive to all-state governors across the country to collegially and cooperatively work together for sake of peace and unity of South Sudanese,” she added.

According to the revitalized peace agreement, decision-making in the government shall be in a spirit of collegial collaboration.

It also requires the state governments to consult and cooperate in the interest of peace and stability.

The peace deal outlines the responsibility sharing ratio at state and local government levels as follows: 55 percent for the SPLM; 27 percent for the SPLM-IO; 10 percent for SSOA and 8 percent for OPP.