Western Equatoria State Governor James Alteib has carried out a sweeping overhaul of the state’s leadership, dismissing a wide range of senior officials and appointing new figures to key government positions.
In a gubernatorial decree issued from the state secretariat, the governor relieved the Mayor of Yambio Municipality and multiple Directors-General from major ministries, including Gender, Culture and Sports, Finance and Planning, Public Service, Health, Agriculture, Cooperatives, Peacebuilding, Lands and Housing, and Education. The Deputy Secretary-General of Western Equatoria State was also removed.
The officials relieved include: Mayor, Yambio Municipality, Director-General, Ministry of Gender, Director-General, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Deputy Secretary-General, Western Equatoria State, Director-General, Ministry of Finance & Planning, Director-General, Ministry of Public Service, Director-General, Ministry of Health, Director-General, Ministry of Agriculture, Director-General, Ministry of Cooperatives.
Others includes Director-General, Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, Director-General, Ministry of Peacebuilding, Late Director-General, Ministry of Education, Director-General, Ministry of Housing, Land and Public Utilities.
Following the dismissals, Governor Alteib announced new appointments to fill the leadership gaps and set a new administrative direction for the state.
The newly appointed officials are: Fozia Abbas Barnaba Bangasu – Mayor of Yambio Municipality, Torosa Elias Toro – Deputy Mayor for Administration, John Baabe – Deputy Secretary-General, Western Equatoria State, Rev. John Zeburuna – Director-General, Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, Mary Pio – Director-General, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Dr. Anthony Zangada – Director-General, Ministry of Health, Killiopa – Director-General, Ministry of Lands and Housing, Samuel Basiama – Director-General, Ministry of Peacebuilding and Zigbondo – Director-General, Ministry of General Education and Instruction.
While the decree did not provide reasons for the broad restructuring, the move represents one of the most extensive leadership purges in Western Equatoria State in recent years, affecting nearly every major ministry and top municipal offices.
The newly appointed officials are expected to assume their duties immediately as the state embarks on a fresh administrative direction under Governor Alteib’s leadership.
