August 11, 2020 (Nyamilepedia) – Thousands of residents of Western Bahr el Ghazal state’s capital Wau have turned out to welcome the state’s first female governor, Sara Cleto Rial, who was appointed in June as part of a 2018 peace deal signed by President Salva Kiir and now First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny.
Cleto is a member of the SPLM-IO led by Machar and is one of three state governors nominated by the main armed opposition group into top gubernatorial positions.
Speaking to Nyamilepedia from Wau, several residents who were also among those who welcomed the governor expressed their happiness and said they were happy that Western Bahr el Ghazal state was coming under the administration of a woman politician.
“We are very happy because we have a female politician. Someone we can call a mother and a leader. Our brothers have messed our country up. I think this would be a very positive step and we hope that the leadership considers giving women more opportunities to showcase their skills,” one resident said in tears.
Another resident said the government has been one of the civil servants in the state before the independence of South Sudan and most of the people who were welcoming her today know what is going to come in her administration.
“It is development. Most people who are were known that Sarah Cleto will deliver. We are tired but we are now strong that we finally have our politician mother,” the resident who identified himself as Sunday said.
