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July 23, 2011 (JUBA) - South Sudan’s president Salva Kiir Mayardit on Saturday presided over swearing in of Pagan Amum Okiech, as minister for peace, after news reports and allegations that he had resigned from the government.
Cirino Hiteng, minister in the office of the president told press that Amum could not take an oath when other caretaker ministers were sworn last week following South Sudan’s independence because he was committed with other assignments.
“Comrade Pagan Amum has just taken an oath of the office before our president in a function administered by the chief justice. He has now assumed duties of the caretaker minister of peace, said Hiteng. He could not take an oath of office last week because he was fully engaged with other national assignments”, said Hiteng denying that Amum has resigned.
“I am not aware of this resignation. All I know is that he was busy that he failed to attend swearing function with other ministers”, he argued.
Amum expressed happiness and gave what he described as sincere thanks to the president of the Republic of South Sudan for trust he had in him to once again take him as caretaker minister and for being part of the SPLM and the government of the new nation.
“I have just taken an oath of the office presided over by our president comrade Salva Kiir Mayardit for appointing me once again as caretaker minister in the ministry of peace. This is the same ministry you all know to which I was appointed," said Amum.
Amum was the minister for implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which ended decades of conflict in 2005, and allowed South Sudan to secede through a January referendum.
The minister said there were a lot of challenges that the people of South Sudan together with their government needs to address as one nation.
“I would like to once again thank our people for determination and the humour at the referendum. It was indeed a very momentous and successful event that will be remembered for years to come. It did not change only change the map of Sudan, it also changed our destiny. It changed our lives. It changed our families. It changed our perspectives and relations. We must understand that referendum was an event, a hugely important event. It was a life changing event which we will never forget for many years to come”, explained Amum.
(ST)
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