Dr. Riek Gai Kok was on Monday sworn in as the governor of Jonglei State.
Dr. Riek, a former national minister of health and a member of SPLM replaces Mahjoub Biel, a member of the National Democratic Movement (NDM), a critical part of the SSOA coalition.
While witnessing the swearing in, President Kiir Mayardit urged the newly appointed governor to prioritize tackling the key challenges in Jonglei.
The president urged Dr. Riek to consider then ongoing insecurity in the region as a priority, assuring him of the full support from the national government in restoring peace and stability.
The President’s message was echoed by other officials at the event, who emphasized the need for unity and reconciliation in this troubled state.
Dr. Riek Gai Kok, a prominent member of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), pledged to collaborate with all segments of the Jonglei population to address the state’s most urgent issues.
“I am committed to working with every community and stakeholder to achieve sustainable peace and development in Jonglei,” he stated.
Jonglei state is a a region that has long faced instability and intercommunal conflict.
This change in leadership is part of a political agreement reached in 2023 between President Kiir and the leaders of the SSOA.
According to the deal, the SPLM would assume the governorship, while the SSOA would hold the deputy governorship and either a special envoy or a ministerial position at the national level.
However, the implementation of this agreement faced delays of nearly two years until Kiir’s recent appointment of Dr. Gai Kok.
Jonglei State has long been plagued by intercommunal violence, cattle raiding, and political tensions, making the new leadership’s task particularly challenging. The governor’s administration is expected to focus on overcoming these obstacles while fostering economic growth and promoting social cohesion in the state.
During the swearing-in ceremony, which took place at the Presidential Palace in Juba, Nyuol Justin Yaac was also sworn in as the chairperson of the Human Rights Commission and Ezekia Alfandi Gibson as his deputy.
