Mabior Garang de Mabior, the head of the opposition SPLM-IO’s committee for information, says he is ready to take up deputy minister’s post.

Mabior Garang, eldest son of late John Garang de Mabior, founder of the South Sudanese ruling party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM),  was appointed as Deputy Minister of Interior in the unity government on the SPLM-IO ticket.

Mabior was absent when new ministers and deputy ministers were sworn-in before President Salva Kiir in Juba on Monday.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Thursday, Mabior says that he is comfortable being a deputy minister of interior in the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity.

He denied reports that he is hesitant to take on a ministerial office because of challenges facing the implementation of the security arrangements.

In 2016 Mabior was appointed as National Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation before the 2015 peace deal collapsed.

“It is not true that I am hesitant to take up the position of deputy minister of interior. If you compare the Ministry of Interior with the Ministry of Water Resources, you will find that the Ministry of Interior has more responsibilities in the country,” he explained.

Mabior has said he is ready to serve the SPLM-IO movement in any capacity, adding that he will work diligently to serve the people of South Sudan.

“I can confirm to the people of South Sudan that hopefully I will be in Juba on Friday. I was absent during the swearing-in of ministers and deputy ministers due to some logistical issues, especially the issue of ticket after the new coronavirus,” he concluded.

Last week, President Kiir named 35 ministers and 10 deputy ministers, following weeks of negotiations over the new transitional government that was announced in the capital Juba, last month.

Kiir formed the presidency on February 22 and swore Riek Machar, leader of the main opposition SPLM-IO as First Vice President including other four vice presidents as stipulated in the peace deal.