August 6, 2024 AWEIL, South Sudan. Taban Paride, Chairperson of the South Sudan National Youth Union, has issued a provisional order reinstating Tito Awen Bol, Chairperson of the Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Youth Union, who was impeached on November 28, 2023, following a directive from former governor Tong Akeen Ngor.
Awen was officially elected as the state youth union chairperson on October 10, 2022. After the polls, he was arrested several times on various charges. However, observers contend that the charges were politically motivated to prevent him from taking office.
Late last year, under the influence of the former governor, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Youth Union delegates impeached Awen and appointed Garang Akuei Deng as the interim chairperson of the union.
Events leading to the youth leader’s reinstatement began when President Salva Kiir fired Governor Tong Akeen Ngor on June 24 and appointed Brigadier General Simon Ober Mawut as his replacement. An investigation team, led by Taban Paride, arrived in the state on July 19 and promised to reach a final resolution on the matter.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday evening, Bol Akuar Gamar, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, said the National Youth Union in Juba took similar steps as his ministry and nullified Awen’s impeachment. He blamed the former governor for misusing his powers to interfere in youth affairs.
“The order by the South Sudan National Youth Union for the reinstatement of Mr. Tito Awen Bol, the Chairperson for Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Youth Union, may correspond with the earlier ministerial order passed by the state Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sports annulling the impeachment of Mr. Awen by the youth union,” he stated. “But the former Governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, Tong Akeen Ngor, forcefully removed him from the office after confirming the impeachment.”
For his part, Awen said he was aware that what had happened in the past was wrong and remained hopeful that it would be corrected.
“I am really grateful because what was happening all along was a joke and I knew that one day the truth must be revealed and here now the truth is revealed!” he said. “I am happy with the Government of South Sudan, the leadership of the South Sudan National Youth Union, the Government of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, and the youth of the state for their resilience because they were pushed to be divided and fight amongst themselves, but they refused. They (youth) have historical peace from their forefathers who were not educated, so how can they fight amongst themselves when they are educated?”
On his part, Garang Akuei Deng, the former interim chairperson of the Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Youth Union, said he was surprised by the resolution issued by Taban Paride, Chairperson of the South Sudan National Youth Union.
“It was a surprise to me when I saw a letter written by the South Sudan National Youth Union Chairperson, Mr. Taban Paride,” he stated. “I am currently very far from the state headquarters, so I do not have any response now, and we will respond as a team after consultations are concluded with my team.
