By Isaac Vuni

August 9, 2007 (JUBA) — The President of the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS), Salva Kiir Mayardit, has today relieved and named new state cabinet for Eastern Equatoria State.

Sacked ministers and advisors:

Salva Kiir Mayardit

GOSS Presidential decree number 83 of 2007 relieved state Ministers and Advisors in Eastern Equatoria State; namely Mr. Teko Allan Lochul, Deputy Governor and Minister for Local Government and enforcement; Mr. George Muras Lomoro, Minister for Finance, Trade and Industry; Mr. Francis Okeny Olaka, Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resource; Mr. Morris Merisia Kaunda, Minister of Social Development; Mr. Ceaser Lefuk Alexander, Minister for Physical Infrastructure; Mr. Marko Lolimo, Minister of Health and Mr. Angelo Voga Morgan Advisor on Administration.

General Kiir thanks the outgoing state minister for their commendable role and tireless sacrifices they made in the service of the people of Eastern Equatoria State.

Newly appointed ministers and advisors:

President Kiir also issued another decree number 84 of 2007 appointing state ministers and Advisors in Eastern Equatoria State and they are: Mr. George Echom, Deputy Governor and Minister for Local Government and Law enforcement; Mr. Tulio Odongi Ayahu, State Minister of Finance, Trade and Industry; Ms. Betty Ogwaro, State Minister for Agriculture, Animal Resources, Forestry, Cooperative and Rural Development; Mr. Patrick Lodinga, State Minister for Social Development; Mr. Morris Merisia Kaunda, State Minister for Physical Infrastructure; Ms. Elizabeth Ojaba Itto, State Minister of Health; Mr. Ukeck Alak Ukech, State Advisor for Peace and Reconciliation and Ms. Agnes Lox, State Advisor for Gender. The relief and appointment of the new cabinet has effect from 6th August 2007.

Minister and advisor who survive reshuffles

 Mr. Francis Ben Ataba, Minister of Education
 Mr. Ben Loky, Minister of Information and Communication
 Mr. Marcelo Dominic, Advisor on security affairs

In another development, the second beach of 47 Counties commissioners and 19 Executive Directors left for South Africa via Nairobi for four weeks training in local government administration and management and the team was led by Dobuol Lualweng Wuol GoSS director for Bilateral Relations.

Wuol said the second group includes representatives from Blue Nile, Nuba Mountains and Abyei. However, he regretted that there are only three women, one in the first group who are attending local government administration training and he blamed the process of nomination and election in each county that seem to have sidelined women.

He appeals to local government authorities to seriously consider women in the coming programme. The training programme is being organised by GoSS Ministry of Regional Corporation in collaboration with South African government.

(ST)