BOR, JONGLEI STATE — Jonglei Civil Society Network (JCSN) has welcomed the appointment of Hon. Wilson Awuol Gajang Awuol as Deputy Governor of Jonglei State, describing the move as a long-awaited relief after the position remained vacant for nearly a year.
In a statement, JCSN Chairperson Bol Deng Bol expressed appreciation to the appointing authority for filling the post, which has been vacant since March 2025. He noted that the absence of a Deputy Governor had placed an additional burden on Governor Dr. Riek Gai Kok and his administration.
“The appointment is a relief not only to our advocacy efforts as civil society actors, but also to the residents and citizens of Jonglei State,” Bol said, adding that the vacancy, coupled with the prolonged recess of the State Legislative Assembly, had been a major concern for civil society groups in the state.
However, Bol raised concerns regarding the power-sharing arrangement under the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS). He said the Deputy Governor’s position was expected to be allocated to the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA), following the allocation of the Governor’s position to SPLM-IG.
“The fact that SPLM-IG now holds both the Governor and Deputy Governor positions constitutes a violation of the peace agreement, unless a satisfactory explanation is provided,” he stated.
The civil society body also expressed concern over the continued closure of the Jonglei State Legislative Assembly, noting that it has been nearly a year since the expiry of its three-month recess. While acknowledging the recent removal of the Speaker, JCSN urged the appointing authority to expedite the appointment of a new Speaker to restore the Assembly’s functionality.
JCSN further reminded authorities to respect the 35 percent affirmative action provision and ensure that the replacement Speaker is a woman.
Reaffirming its role, the network stated that civil society remains committed to promoting accountability, monitoring and reporting human rights violations, and advocating for the welfare of the people of Jonglei State. It also reiterated its willingness to engage constructively with both state and non-state actors.
