The President of the Republic appointed yesterday 29 ministers and 27 deputy ministers for the first government of South Sudan.
The long awaited new executive has some interesting features compared with the previous cabinet.First of all, it is made up of ministers and deputy ministers, a novelty introduced by the Transitional Constitution.
Then, there are eight new faces in the Cabinet, including Agnes Poni Lukudu for Transport and Martin Elia Lomuro for Animal Resources and Fisheries, who were already ministers in the past.
The other newcomers are John Kong Nyuon for Defence, Emmanuel Lowilla for the Office of the President, Alison Manani Magaya for Interior, Betty Achan Ogwaro for Agriculture, Peter Adwok Nyaba for Higher Education, Alfred Ladu Gore for Environment and Joseph Lual Acuil for Humanitarian Affairs.
Eight ministers kept their portfolios: John Luk Jok stayed with Justice, Michael Makuei Lueth with Parliamentary Affairs, Awut Deng Acuil with Labour and Human Resources, Barnaba Marial Benjamin with Information, Jemma Nunu Kumba with Housing, Madut Biar Yel with Telecommunications, Agnes Kwaje Lasuba with Gender and Paul Mayom Akec with Water Resources.
Twelve ministers were recycled including Deng Alor Kuol who left Foreign Affairs for Cabinet Affairs, Nhial Deng Nhial from Defence to Foreign Affairs, Gier Chuang Aluong from Interior to the new ministry of Roads and Bridges and Garang Diing Akuong from Energy to the now combined ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment.
Anthony Lino Makana, Anne Itto, Luka Tombekana Manoja, Pagan Amum and James Kok Ruea are among the ten ministers lost their jobs. However, Priscilla Nyanyang Joseph and Mary Jarvas Yak were appointed Deputy Ministers for Gender and Finance respectively.
The new government includes five women ministers and ten deputy ministers out of 56 elements, corresponding to 26 percent of total posts.