Jan 29, 2021(Nyamilepedia) — President Salva Kiir has appointed Budhok Ayang Kur as the new governor for Upper Nile State after almost six months of back and forth between the government and the main opposition party.
In a presidential decree that was read out on the state-owned South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC), the president appointed Hon. Budhok Ayang Kur instead of General Johnson Olony Thambo who was nominated by APLM-IO back in July.
Kiir also appointed Hon. Tor Monybuny as deputy governor of Upper Nile.
Last week, the First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar urged Gen Olony to immediately report to the capital Juba for his appointment or else he would be replaced with any other nominee within the SPLM-IO.
Olony refused to go to Juba saying he can only return to juba after being appointed citing security reasons.
“After consulting with the political and military leadership, and on the background of your phone call regarding my going to Juba or changing me to another candidate, the political and military leadership refused to replace the candidate Johnson Olony with another candidate,” said Johnson Olony in a statement extended to the media.
However, the president today appointed a new governor for the Upper Nile putting an end to Olony’s appointment controversies that left Upper Nile without a governor for nearly half a year.
