The state government in Western Bahr al Ghazal is undergoing a major reshuffle, with three county executives sacked on Saturday and new cabinet appointments expected in the coming days.

On Saturday Governor Rizik Zachariah Hassan decreed the removal of all three of the state’s county commissioners, the mayor of the capital city Wau and his deputy, and appointed their replacements.

In an interview with Radio Tamazuj, state minister of information Derek Alfred explained that Wau County Commissioner Angelo Taban Biajo has been replaced by the former Youth and Sport Minister Eliah Kamilo Dimo.

Jur River County Commissioner John Arop is replaced by state MP Simon Athuai Akot and Raja County Commissioner Hassan Jellab is replaced by Maradama James Benjamin.

The governor also relieved Wau Mayor Arkangelo Anyar Anyar and appointed in his place Livio Geligo Bahara – father of the detained UN radio journalist George Livio and formerly state economic advisor. He will be deputized by Santino Manut Akec who replaced Anthony Charles Mberende.

Meanwhile, the governor will soon reshuffle the state cabinet as well, according to the state information minister. “The ministers could be changed from today or in the coming days. I expect today there could be decrees for changing of ministers – but it has not happened yet,” he said. 

Asked to comment on the decrees made over the weekend, the information minister said, “This is the governor’s job. Every year he is supposed to make changes. He is supposed to appoint people and remove people – this is a normal thing.”

The minister pointed out that there remains harmony among the state leadership, citing a social function yesterday that was attended by many government officials: “Just yesterday all of us ministers and other officials, we were all together at the house of the deputy governor for a Christmas party – and people were all greeting each other and nobody was angry with anybody. This is normal.”

File photo: Derek Alfred