09/10/2025
Open letter to H.E. Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit, the President of the Republic of South Sudan
By: Hon. John Ter Jok Weah
How the Lou Nuer Community has been left out in the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU)!...…..................................................................
The fundamental objectives and guiding principles of the Transitional Constitution of South Sudan, 2011, as amended, under article 36 (4), on Political Objectives, provided that "The composition of governments shall take into account ethnic, regional and social diversity in order to promote national unity and command national loyalty."
The Nuer Community is divided into four (4) sub-sections, with sixteen (16) counties.
However, based on the power sharing ratios in the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU), the four (4) sub-sections of the Nuer Community have been represented on the tickets of SPLM-IG and SPLM-IO as follows:
*GREATER NASIR COMMUNITY (EASTERN JIKANY)*
1. Hon. James Hoth Mai __Minister of Labour (SPLM-IG);
2. Hon. Dak Duop Bichiok __Minister of Public Service and Human Resource Development (SPLM-IG);
3. Hon. Puot Kang Chol __Minister of Petroleum (SPLM-IO);
4. Gen. James Koang Chuol __Deputy Minister of Defence (SPLM-IG);
5. Hon. Yien Gach Ruei __ Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning (SPLM-IO);
6. Hon. Stephen Kueth Gach __ Chairperson of Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) (SPLM-IG);
7. Hon. Simon Kun Puoch, 3rd Deputy Chairperson of SPLM (SPLM-IG);
8. Hon. Stephen Kueth Chuol, SPLM Chief Whip (R-TNLA) (SPLM-IG);
9. CDE. Gatkuoth Bim _SPLM Deputy Secretary for State Affairs, SPLM National Secretariat (SPLM-IG);
10. Amb. Martha Nyamal Choat, Deputy Managing Director at Nile Petroleum Corporation (NILEPET) (SPLM-IG);
11. Gen. James Wang Chany, Chief of Administration and Finance, Internal Security Bureau (ISB), National Security Service (NSS).
*GREATER BENTIU COMMUNITY*
1. H.E. Dr. Riek Machar Teny __First Vice President, Chairman and C-in-C of SPLM/A-IO (SPLM/A-IO);
2. H.E. Gen. Taban Deng G*i __Vice President for Infrastructure Cluster (SPLM-IG);
3. Hon. Angelina Jany Teny __Minister of Interior (SPLM-IO);
4. Hon. Michael Chiangjiek Gei __Minister of Land and Housing (SPLM-IG);
5. Hon. Nadia Arop Dudi, Minister of Culture, Museums and Heritage (SPLM-IG);
6. Lt. Gen. Jal Thomas Kuma __Deputy Inspector General of Police (IGP) (SPLM-IO);
7. Lt. Gen. Yei Dak Wei __Deputy Director General for Intelligence Operations, Internal Security Bureau (ISB-NSS) (SPLM-IO);
8. CDE. Mary Paul Ngundeng, SPLM Secretary for Popular and Syndicated Organisations, SPLM National Secretariat.
*GREATER FANGAK COMMUNITY *
1. Hon. Stephen Phar Kuol __ Minister of Peace Building (SPLM-IO);
2. Hon. James Mawich Makuach __ Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation (SPLM-IO);
3. CDE. Nyachoap Thiang Luony _SPLM Deputy Secretary for Planning and Economic Affairs, SPLM National Secretariat (SPLM-IG);
4. Lt. Gen. Thoi Chany Reat __Director General (DG), General Intelligence Bureau (GIB), National Security Service (NSS) (SPLM-IG).
*GREATER AKOBO (LOU NUER COMMUNITY)*
No single representation on both the tickets of SPLM-IG and SPLM-IO in the R-TGONU!
1. No National Minister;
2. No Deputy Minister;
3. No Undersecretary;
4. Not even a Director General (DG).
The Government (SPLM) should capitalized on the silence of Lou Nuer Community on Nasir incident and the subsequent house arrest of Dr.Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon, plus his ongoing trial!
The Lou Nuer Community is a very huge constituency in terms of population and man power. When the war broke out in early March 2025, in Nasir, Upper Nile State, between the South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF) and the White Army, a considerable number of South Sudanese, predominantly members of the Nuer Community, expected the Lou Nuer White Army to join the war.
However, the silence of the Lou Nuer White Army on Nasir incident and subsequent house arrest of Dr.Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon, plus his ongoing trial, has left a lot of people dumbfounded. People are still wondering about what happened to Lou Nuer White Army in 2025!
The utmost rationale behind the silence of Lou Nuer Community can be demonstrated by asking the following question: What happens when you push a loyal person too far? There is a old adage that "Never push a loyal person to the point where they no longer care."
The Google search illustrated that when you push a loyal person too far, they may reach a point of exhaustion, hurt, and frustration. They may feel taken for granted, unappreciated, and unvalued. And when that happens, they may slowly start to disconnect, to withdraw their loyalty, and to stop caring.
This quote highlights the importance of cherishing loyalty and the potential consequences of taking it for granted. It suggests that while loyal individuals may endure much, their capacity for loyalty is not infinite, and pushing them too far can lead to them withdrawing their support and care.
The bottom line is that the Lou Nuer Community has given up on Dr. Riek Machar Teny and decided not to be used again as tools of war and opted for peace.
This is a commendable turning point that the Government should not take for granted. The Government (SPLM) should capitalized on this by doing more to continue winning the trust and confidence of the Lou Nuer community
The best strategy for the Government to deal with Dr. Riek Machar Teny, once and for all in Lou Nuer in particular, and Nuer community in general, is to give the Ministry of Petroleum to Lou Nuer community for the first time.
Dr.Riek Machar Teny refused twice to give the Ministry of Petroleum to Lou Nuer community (2015/2020-ARCSS/R-ARCSS). Moreover, Gen.Taban Deng G*i also refused to give the same opportunity to Lou Nuer community (2016-2018-R-ARCSS).
Therefore, if the President gives this opportunity to Lou Nuer community this time around as a reward for their silence, I am quite certain that the Lou Nuer community would be very happy with our President, and this would be a very big political blow to Dr. Riek Machar Teny.
The writer is former Commissioner of Nyandiit County, under the defunct Bieh State (28 States), and former Director General (DG) of Finance, Defunct Akobo State. He can be reached on +211910101150, +211925551117, [email protected].
1. Cc: H.E.Gen.Benjamin Bol Mel, the Vice President and Chair of Economic Cluster!
2. Cc: Hon. Adut Salva Kiir Mayardit, the Presidential Advisor on Special Programs
3. Cc. Lt. Gen. Charles Ciec Mayor, Director General (DG), Internal Security Bureau (ISB), National Security Service (NSS).
