By Gladys Fred Kole
Newly appointed minister of interior Angelina Teny was sworn into office alongside her deputy, Marial Gumke, to head the interior ministry.
President Salva Kiir Mayardit presided over the swearing-in ceremony at State House J1, with First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar also present.
Speaking after the oath-taking administered by Chief Justice Chan Reec Madut, Kiir directed the duo to work together and steer the ministry to its desired improved performance.
“President Kiir has directed the newly appointed Minister of Interior, Angelina Teny, and her deputy, Marial Gumke, to work together in order to enable the institution to deliver on its mandate,” a statement on the president’s page reads.
For his part, First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny also urged the new officials to prepare a conducive environment for the conduct of elections next year.
Interior Minister Angelina Teny promised that she would join hands with officials in the ministry to improve performance.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Interior Marial Gumke also assured to work jointly with colleagues in the Ministry to achieve the overall direction of the political leadership.
The South Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) and SPLM-IG resolved a deadlock that hovered over Angelina Teny, owing to her appointment as a minister of interior.
Angelina, a former Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs, was sacked in early March by President Salva Kiir.
The president also swapped the defense ministry, formally allocated to the SPLM-IO led by Dr. Riek Machar, with that of the Interior.
This move was protested by the SPLM-IO, terming it a continuous violation of the revitalized peace agreement, triggering a political stalemate between the two principals in the R-TGoNU.
But that wrangle is now a thing of the past as Angelina returned to the transitional government as Interior Minister.
Lakes State Deputy Governor Dr. Isaiah Akol Mathiang also took the oath of office yesterday.