By Matik Kueth
The Jonglei Civil Society Network (JCSN) has welcomed the long-awaited appointment of Wilson Awuol Gajang Awuol as Deputy Governor, nearly a year after the office fell vacant, but cautioned that serious governance and power-sharing issues remain unresolved.
In a statement extended to King Media on Tuesday, Bol Deng Bol, JCSN’s Chairperson, said the appointment of Awuol ends a long-standing leadership vacuum that had strained the state administration.
“I would like to convey our utmost appreciation to the appointing authority for finally filling the office of the Deputy Governor. It has been vacant for close to a year, since March, 2025. We welcome his Excellency Awuol Gajang Awuol ahead of his swearing in,” Bol said.
He noted that the absence of a deputy governor had placed excessive pressure on Governor Dr. Riek Gai Kok, especially at a time when the State Legislative Assembly has remained inactive far beyond its constitutional recess period.
“Obviously, this void had left a huge gap, burdening His Excellency Governor, Dr. Riek Gai Kok and his administration,” he stated.
Power-sharing concerns under R-ARCSS
While welcoming the appointment, JCSN expressed alarm over what it described as a deviation from the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), particularly regarding political power-sharing arrangements in Jonglei State.
According to the statement, both the Governor and Deputy Governor positions are now held by SPLM-IG, contrary to expectations that the Deputy Governor’s post would be allocated to the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA).
“We understand that Deputy Governor was supposed to come from SSOA since the Governor’s position somehow found itself to SPLM-IG. This constitutes a violation of the peace pact arrangement, unless a satisfactory explanation is availed,” the group warned.
Civil society groups have repeatedly cautioned that selective implementation of the peace agreement risks eroding trust among signatory parties and could fuel political tension at the state level.
State legislative assembly still in Limbo
JCSN also criticized the continued closure of the Jonglei State Legislative Assembly, noting that it has been nearly a year since the Assembly’s three-month recess ended.
“It is equally close to a year since the three-month recess ended,” the statement said.
Although the recent removal of the Speaker was acknowledged, JCSN urged the appointing authority to act swiftly to restore the legislature’s functionality and respect gender representation commitments.
“We request that the process of appointing a speaker is expedited to allow for full functionality of the second arm of the State’s Government,” it stressed, adding that authorities should “be mindful of the 35% affirmative action and ensure the speaker’s replacement is a female.”
Civil society vows continued oversight
The network reaffirmed its watchdog role, pledging to continue monitoring governance, human rights, and public accountability across the state.
It further stated that it remains open to engagement with both state and non-state actors to ensure inclusive governance, peace implementation, and the protection of citizens’ rights in Jonglei State.