Kiir sacks Gen. Aleu as Warrap Governor, names replacement

JUBA – President Salva Kiir Mayardit has this evening issued a presidential decree removing the governor of the country’s Warrap State, Gen. Aleu Anyieny, and appointed and little-known politician as the replacement.

In the decree read out on the state-own South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC), the South Sudanese president sacked the controversial governor and did not give reason for why he had to take the decision.

In a separate decree also read out on the government-own television, Kiir named Manhiem Bol Malek as the new governor of the restive state which has seen continued cattle-related conflicts despite the decrease in political violence.

Aleu was appointed in January last year to replace Gen. Bona Panek Biar. His administration has been marred by allegations of human rights abuses as governor has been implicated by international organizations in reports of extrajudicial killings.

He has however been described as a successful governor by a section of his supporters says has helped reduce the communal violence that has been a cause of insecurity even after the reduction of the political violence.

The new governor, Manhiem Bol Malek, is a former military officer who has previously served as the deputy governor of the defunct Tonj state.