The new caretaker governor of South Sudan's Warrap state Akec Tong Aleu issued an executive order appointing Colonel Abraham Gum Makuac as his deputy.

Colonel Gum is presently an officer in charge of officer affairs in the SPLA’s 3rd division headquarters in Wunyiik, which covers Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Warrap, and Abyei administrative area.

Gum is reported to have welcomed the appointment and pledged readiness to take up the new assignment. He is expected to travel to Kuacjok early next week for swearing in and assumption of duties. His appointment must be vetted and approved by the state parliament.

Local politicians say Gum was picked from a list which also included former education minister Victor Atem Atem and former Gogrial East county commissioner Akot Lual. They all hail from the same area had indicated their interest for the post and sought appointment.

File photo: Warrap caretaker governor Akec Tong Aleu