By Gladys Fred Kole
South Sudan National Movement for Change (SSNMC) demands reinstatement of party chairperson, Moro Isaac Jenesio, as the State Minister of Local Government.
The call comes after a recent presidential decree, relieving Moro Isaac Jenesio and other state officials from their positions.
According to the party, Moro’s removal was done without prior consultation with the leadership council.
In a statement released by the SSNMC, the leadership expressed their dismay at the decision and criticized the lack of consultation with the party.
Ukele Eddy Gumass, the Secretary General of SSNMC, emphasized the need for transparency and proper procedures when making such changes.
He stated that while the party is not opposed to changes, they expect them to be carried out through the appropriate channels within the party, rather than by arbitrary decisions.
Ukele called upon the presidency to consider their appeal and reinstate their chairperson, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the power-sharing ratio established in the Revitalized Agreement.
“We are in the revitalized agreement and also the positions were given according to the responsibility and power sharing ratio so there’s no removal of any person without consultation of his or her party,” he said.
“I appeal to the president to consider our appeal we know it is not the making of the president it is the making of those who are taking the names for change to the presidency,” he added.
Kele stated that when the 10% share was allocated to the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA), it was intended to be distributed among the nine constitutional members of SSOA.
“Therefore, any removal of positions should have been done in consultation with the party commission,” he argued.
According to the Responsibility and Power Sharing Ratio outlined in the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) of 2018, the 10% share allocated to SSOA underwent internal division, with specific positions reserved for the SSNMC.
These positions include the National Ministry of Public Service and Humanitarian Resource Development, six (6) members of the RTNLA, one State Advisor, two State Ministers, two Chairpersons, four Deputy Chairpersons, members of State Commissions, two County Commissioners, and fourteen members of RSTL Assemblies.
The SSNMC claims that 70% of these positions were traded without their consent.
Despite their efforts to regain these positions through the office of the Vice President representing SSOA, their attempts were unsuccessful. To their surprise, their chairperson was instead removed from his position.
The party called upon the leaders of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) to ensure the reinstatement of their chairperson and the rightful allocation of SSNMC positions within the party.
In an earlier statement, SSNMC further mentioned the previous suspension of Moro Isaac Jenesio as the state minister of local government by the Governor of Central Equatorial State, which has left the position in limbo without a final verdict.
The SSNMC’s demand for the reinstatement of their chairperson reflects their commitment to upholding the principles of fair allocation of positions and consultation within the party.
They seek to rectify the situation and ensure that decisions regarding appointments and removals are made by established procedures and the power-sharing agreement.