The new Interior Minister, Gen. Aleu Ayieny Aleu, has vowed
to address internal insecurity within a month or face dismissal, after
President Salva Kiir tasked him with restoring the rule of law.
Speaking briefly at a family reception on Wednesday
following his swearing-in ceremony, Aleu said tackling insecurity would start
at the state and village level before addressing issues in the capital.
“Internal insecurity is the work of the police. So, we,
Mangar Buong [Deputy Minister of Interior] and I, need a full month; if it
defeats us, Kiir should relieve us,” Aleu said.
Aleu, an SPLM member who previously served as interior
minister from 2013 to 2015 and as governor of Warrap State from 2021 to 2022,
was appointed Interior Minister on Monday. He replaces SPLM-IO’s Angelina Teny,
who had held the post since March 2023 under the 2018 peace deal’s
power-sharing arrangement.
“President Kiir directed the Minister of Interior to
re-organize the police force in order to effectively enforce the rule of law
effectively to curb criminality in order to allow the citizens to conduct their
activities freely,” the Office of the President said in a statement.
The country is currently facing insecurity from villages to cities, including communal violence, cattle raids, road ambushes, gang attacks, robberies, and clashes between government and opposition forces, which are claiming lives, displacing people, and worsening the humanitarian situation.
Aleu was sworn in alongside other senior officials,
including Ezekial Lol Gatkuoth as Minister of Public Service and Human
Resources Development, Anthony Lino Makana as Minister of Labour, and Sarah
Nyanath Elijiah Yong as Minister of Culture, Museums, and National Heritage.
At the state level, President Kiir also swore in Madhang
Majok Meen as Governor of Lakes State and Deng Akuei Kak as Deputy Governor of
Upper Nile State.
Kiir also tasked the Minister of Labour to protect workers’
rights and the Minister of Public Service to accelerate reforms in public
service, ensuring employees receive fair benefits and recognition.
President Kiir urged citizens to work towards peace and charged the Governor of Lakes State with sustaining security and stability at the state level, noting that peace is key to national cohesion and development.
