Kiir appoints ally as Jonglei deputy governor in fresh peace deal violation

BOR – President Salva Kiir has appointed Wilson Wuol Gajang, a member of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IG), as the new Deputy Governor of Jonglei State, ending a nearly ten-month vacancy and igniting fresh accusations of violating the 2018 peace agreement.

The deputy governorship had remained unfilled since March 2025, when former Deputy Governor Atong Kuol Manyang was elevated to the national cabinet as Minister of Trade and Industry. The extended vacancy had left a leadership gap in one of South Sudan’s most fragile and conflict-prone states.

Jonglei State Minister of Information Nyanmar Lony confirmed the appointment, describing it as “long overdue” and necessary to restore full leadership within the state government.

“This appointment completes the state leadership structure and will improve coordination and service delivery,” Lony said.

Gajang, a Member of Parliament representing Pigi County under the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), is widely viewed as a loyalist of President Kiir. He is expected to assume office immediately and work alongside Governor Dr. Riek Gai Kok to tackle Jonglei’s persistent security crises, intercommunal violence, humanitarian pressures, and governance challenges.

However, the appointment has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties. Under the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), the deputy governorship of Jonglei State is broadly understood to be allocated to the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) as part of the power-sharing arrangement.

The National Democratic Movement (NDM), a member of the SSOA led by Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin, condemned the decision as a “material breach” of the peace deal, arguing that unilateral appointments to positions reserved for opposition groups undermine the spirit and letter of the agreement.

Opposition figures warn that repeated deviations from the power-sharing framework risk eroding trust among signatories and further delaying the full implementation of the peace accord.

Despite the criticism, state officials maintain that filling the long-vacant position was essential to ensure administrative stability in Jonglei, which continues to grapple with insecurity, displacement, and fragile public services.

It remains unclear whether the opposition will challenge the appointment through the dispute-resolution mechanisms of the peace agreement or seek political negotiations to address the latest concerns.