Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth and Philip Aguer Panyang both assumed offices in 2016

President Salva Kiir has sacked the minister of petroleum and the governor of Jonglei State through republican decrees issued Wednesday night.

Both Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth and Philip Aguer Panyang were removed without explanation – apart from the President citing his constitutional powers to appoint and remove public servants.

Lol was appointed in August 2016 after the SPLM-IO under Dr. Riek Machar split – with Taban Deng Gai remaining with a faction in Juba; while Riek’s group fled to exile following renewed clashes in Juba.

He was nominated by FVP Taban, as per the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan 2015.

However, it is not clear whether his removal from office was done in consultation with the FVP.

Lol has been replaced by Daniel Awou Chuong .

Meanwhile, Philip Aguer who had been governor of Jonglei since 2016 has been replaced with Maker Thiong, a nominated member of the TNLA.

Prior to his appointment, Aguer was a longtime spokesperson for the SPLA.

Upon his appointment – among 27 other governors for the newly created 28 states – Aguer was subjected to a local mock election in Juba whereby communities from Jonglei endorsed him.

The two officials – Philip Aguer and Ezekiel Lol –  have not been given new assignments.