Kiir, Machar agree mechanism to resolve health ministry dispute, Tambura violence

Kiir, Machar agree mechanism to resolve health ministry dispute, Tambura violence

South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit and his first deputy Dr. Riek Machar Teny have this afternoon met in the presence of

Vice-President Hussein Abdelbaggi to resolve the dispute on the ministry of health’s sacked undersecretary as well as the ongoing violence in Tamabura County of Western Equatoria state.

South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit and his first deputy Dr. Riek Machar Teny have this afternoon met in the presence of Vice-President Hussein Abdelbaggi to resolve the dispute on the ministry of health’s sacked undersecretary as well as the ongoing violence in Tamabura County of Western Equatoria state.

The dispute began earlier this month when vice-president Hussein asked then Undersecretary at the minister Dr. Victoria to “conduct all the necessary changes in the management of the Juba Teaching Hospital that may assist in finding an amicable solution to the ongoing crisis at that institution.”

Dr. Victoria then went on to make reassignments touching on the directors and the director generals at the ministry while the minister was in the United States to attend the United Nations General Assembly.

The minister only returned to the country to revoke the re-appointments in Ministerial Order No 22/2021 terming them illegal.

Hussein then wrote to the minister warning her against ‘undermining’ reforms at the ministry, but Minister Acuei saw that as an attempt to undermine her authority and then issued a ministerial order suspending Dr. Victoria, replacing her with Dr. Samson Paul Baba who is now serving on an acting capacity.

The minister also ordered the formation of a disciplinary board following the provisions of the Civil Service Act and Regulations to investigate the ordered restructuring that she rescinded and ordered the report to be tabled before her in 90 days.

In a statement following the meeting between Kiir and Machar, the presidency said Kiir convened a meeting between Machar and Abdelbaggi to resolved the dispute.

“His Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit convened a consultative meeting with the First Vice President Dr Riek Machar Teny and the Vice President Hussein Abdelbagi Akol to discuss wide range of issues facing the Ministry of Health, insecurity in Tambura County of Western Equatoria State as well as the political issues in Western Bahr el Ghazal State,” the presidency statement reads in part.

The meeting which was attended by Kiir’s security advisor Tut Gatluak Manime, presidential minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin, and cabinet minister Martin Elia Lomoro “agreed to find mechanisms to solve these problems amicably.”