The opposition group Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In-Opposition (SPLM-IO) has accused President Salva Kiir of disregarding its nomination, failing to approve the appointment of a new deputy minister of interior.

As part of the 2018 peace deal, SPLM-IO was allocated nine cabinet posts and three deputies.

Mabior Garang, eldest son of late John Garang de Mabior, founder of the South Sudanese ruling party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM),  was first appointed as deputy minister of interior on the SPLM-IO ticket in March 2020, but later resigned from the position.

Pouk Both Baluang, SPLM-IO director of information, told Radio Tamazuj Wednesday the president did not appoint a new nominee for the position of deputy minister of interior forwarded by the SPLM leadership.

"The name of our nominee to the position of deputy minister of interior was forwarded to the president in December 2020, but no appointment has been made until now, and no reasons were given,” he said.

The SPLM-IO official called on President Salva Kiir to appoint their nominee to the position of deputy minister of interior. "It is important that we complete the structures of the executive. The appointment of a deputy minister of interior is important because the person will help the minister in enforcing law and order across the country,” Pouk said.

He revealed that the SPLM-IO leadership has nominated Nyenagwek Kuol Mareng as the deputy minister of interior.

Nyenagwek, who hails from the disputed area of Abyei, joined Machar’s SPLM-IO in November 2019 after she defected from the Former Detainees (FDs). She formerly served as information minister in Warrap state before the war broke out in 2013.

Radio Tamazuj has not been able to independently verify Pouk’s claims. Phone calls to the president's spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny went unanswered on Wednesday and Thursday.