President Salva Kiir of South Sudan names new ministers, governor

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir attends an oil summit on September 3, 2013 in Khartoum. FILE PHOTO | ASHRAF SHAZLY |

What you need to know:

  • President Salva Kiir carries out reshuffle of ministers months after sacking his entire cabinet in July

JUBA

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir on Thursday carried out a reshuffle of senior government officials.

In decree No.78/2013, Mr Kiir named Paulino Wanawilla as Justice Minister, filling a docket that had remained vacant after the parliament rejected his first choice, Telar Ring Deng, in August. Mr Telar was reappointed as Presidential Advisor on Legal Affairs, a position he held before the reshuffle.

In decree No.82/2013, Kiir named former Defence Minister Gen John Koang Nyuon as the Caretaker Governor for the vast and restive Jonglei State, replacing Gen Kuol Manyang Juuk who was swapped to the Defence docket in August.

In a separate decree, Mr Kiir appointed an outspoken Member of Parliament and former head of the ruling party caucus, Peter Bashir Gbandi, as Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister.

In decree No.77/2013, Mr Kiir relieved Dr Salwa Jibril from his duties as National Expert in the Office of the President and named him in a separate decree as Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs.

Kiir also replaced the Government Chief Whip Atem Garang with Tulio Odongi.

In July, Mr Kiir sacked his entire cabinet and vice president. (READ: S. Sudan president suspends vice president, cabinet)