The new cabinet the South Sudan National Assembly approved today is based on political appointments rather than merit.
This is the view Prof. Alfred Lokuji, acting Dean of Rural Development at the University of Juba shared with SCR News.President Salva Kiir Mayardit had promised a lean government made up of technocrats.
Prof. Lokuji said the appointments for ministerial positions are naturally political rather than technical.
He added that if the appointments were made on merit or expertise many different names were in the ministers’ list.
Prof. Lokuji said he knows some ministers are capable but others have still to prove their capabilities.
He added that it was critical to identify what has been delivered by the respective ministries, and at what stage are they now for analysts to evaluate performance later on.
Prof. Lokuji wished the newly endorsed ministers the best.
He congratulated the Environment Minister, Alfred Lado Gore, saying he is looking forward for the changes Mr. Lado can make.