Crowds in Wau, the capital of Western Bahr el Ghazal, turned out on Wednesday to welcome Maj. Gen. Sherif Daniel Sherif, the state’s new governor appointed by President Salva Kiir.
Sherif, a senior figure in the SPLM-IO interim leadership, replaced Emmanuel Primo earlier this month as part of sweeping changes brought by the breakaway faction of the opposition movement. He arrived with a government delegation that included representatives from SPLM, SPLM-IO, the Council of States, and other political parties.
During his speech, Sherif pledged to strengthen cooperation with Deputy Governor Zackariah Joseph Garang (SPLM) to consolidate peace and deliver development.
“The president has sent me to Wau to improve security and unite the people,” Sherif said. “We will work with all stakeholders to implement the peace agreement and serve the citizens of Western Bahr el Ghazal.”
Deputy Governor Garang echoed the call for cooperation, while senior SPLM official Bol Makueng Yol urged both leaders to put unity above political divisions. “When we came here, people asked why we are traveling with an IO governor. The answer is in what we do, not just what we say,” Yol said.
The governor’s arrival comes at a time of significant political realignment. The SPLM-IO split in April after the detention of First Vice President Riek Machar in Juba. His detention triggered the creation of an interim leadership under Stephen Par Kuol, which has since aligned more closely with the Kiir administration. Sherif is among the key officials appointed under this interim leadership.
Observers say his leadership in Western Bahr el Ghazal will serve as a test case for whether the interim SPLM-IO faction can deliver on promises of peace, stability, and inclusive governance.
About the Author
