President Kiir appoints Yauyau chief administrator

July 30, 2014 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s president, Salva Kiir has appointed the country’s former rebel leader, David Yauyau as chief administrator of the Greater Pibor Area in Jonglei state.

South Sudan’s president, Salva Kiir, addresses the media in Juba on 2 May 2013 (Photo: Reuters/Paul Banks)

Kiir, in a decree issued Wednesday, cited the peace accord recently signed with Yauyau’s South Sudan Democratic Cobra Faction as the basis for the new appointment.

The decree, announced on SSTV, also approved creation of seven counties under the chief administrator. These counties include, Gumurok, Likuangole, Pibor, Bertak, Boma, Pochalla-North and Pochalla-South.

President Kiir signed into law the peace agreement, which recognised the formation of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) last week. This came after government reached a deal with Yauyau’s rebel movement in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia last May.

The South Sudanese leader had vowed to ensure the agreement was fully implemented, including the nominating an administrator and availing funds for the construction of a school, hospitals and a road in Pibor area.

Yauyau rebelled in 2010 after losing elections to represent Pibor county in Jonglei state’s legislative assembly, accusing the ruling Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) of rigging votes. In 2011, however, he accepted a presidential amnesty, but rebelled again the following year.

(ST).