By Ngor Deng Matem
Youths from Northern Bahr el Ghazal state have welcomed the Presidential Decree that reinstated the four among the five state MPs who were replaced.
Last year during the formation of Northern Bahr el Ghazal state Assembly, five MPs who were elected during the 2010 General election were replaced on what was said to be recommendation from the state SPLM leadership.
As a result, the five MPs presented their complaint to the national SPLM Secretariat office.
On the 8th March 2022, President of the Republic of South Sudan Salva Kiir reinstated the four MPs among the five; he also revoked the appointment of those who were appointed.
The MPs reinstated were Ernest Mangok Mangok, Majok Wol Wol, Angok Achul Barjook and Achak Thiep Thiep meanwhile Jane Ayak Baak has not been reinstated.
One of the youths from Aweil Mr. Philip Kuot Manyok said that the people’s power that installed President Kiir into office has reinstated the MPs who were left out without voters’ knowledge
“Peoples’ votes must remain in tag until the next election unless otherwise in a serious case such as death, long illness or resignation. These are the conditions an elected leader gets replaced. So I thank our President for making this decision in our favor,” Manyok said.
Rebecca Amel Dut Deng from Aweil West County appreciated President Kiir for listening to people’s calls but urged the reinstated MPs to respect the state leadership and collaboratively work as a team for service delivery.
“I want to tell these MPs not to get proud that they won but they must be humble and work with their colleagues and state leadership as one team for the common benefit of providing services to the communities,” Amel appealed.
On the 1st March 2022, another MP who was appointed last year William Wel Deng was rejected to take oath of office, and subsequently he was arrested for 6 hours during the same day.