By William Madouk
Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) swaps the governorship of Jonglei State from South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) in a latest agreed between the two parties.
According to the new deal, SSOA accepted to relinquish the Jonglei state governorship to SPLM party in order to allow President Salva Kiir to tackle the rumbling governance crisis in the state.
In return the SSOA – an umbrella of opposition parties will now take the post of deputy governorship, special envoy and a ministerial position in the national government.
That means, the current governor, Denay Jock Chagor will step down soon or be axed after SSOA alliance approved the exchange.
Office of the president in a statement on its Facebook page said, SSOA approved to surrender Jonglei governorship to SPLM party and they would take the position of the Deputy Governor.
“SSOA has agreed to swap Jonglei State Governorship with SPLM. SSOA will now take the position of the Deputy Governor,” partly reads statement seen by this outlet.
“The decision was reached after President Kiir tasked the leadership of SSOA to find an option to address the simmering governance crisis in Jonglei State,” it added.
The office of the president further said, the head-of-state is expected to effect the changes in the coming days.
Senior member of SSOA, Gabriel Changson Chang said they were contended with the new arrangement for the sake of restoring peace and a functional administration in Jonglei State.
Mr. Chang is also the minister of Higher Education in the unity government.
SSOA comprised of about eight parties involved in the current South Sudan peace agreement.
Based on position allocation in the revitalized peace agreement, the governorship for Jonglei state in the parties’ coalition government was allotted for SSOA and the deputy governor for the SPLM led by President Salva Kiir Mayardit.