Dr. Joseph Geng Akec enters Justice Ministry in mega reshuffle

The former Sports Minister has been moved to the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, where he is expected to undertake various pressing tasks

By Emmanuel Mandella

President Salva Kiir Mayardit has placed the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs at the center of his latest government reshuffle, underscoring the critical role the institution plays in steering South Sudan’s legal reforms and peace implementation.

In decrees read on South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) Monday evening, Kiir reassigned Dr. Joseph Geng Akec to the powerful Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, replacing Wek Mamer, who now moves to head the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.

The Ministry of Justice is one of the country’s most sensitive and important portfolios, tasked with uphold the rule of law, promoting constitutional rights, and providing legal counsel to the national and state governments.  

With South Sudan still in transition and elections on the horizon, the ministry’s role as the government’s chief legal advisor and representative, mandated with overseeing the drafting of laws, managing the legal profession, and serving as the public prosecutor, will be of great significant to the country’s future.

Dr. Akec’s legal portfolio

And the new sheriff entrusted with this role is Dr. Joseph Geng Akech.

According to the African Network of Constitutional Lawyers, Dr. Akec is a constitutional and human rights lawyer and a researcher in constitutional designs, human rights and transitional justice.  He holds a Doctor of Laws in comparative constitutional law from University of Pretoria, South Africa, and has published widely on constitutionalism, governance and peace building in South Sudan and Africa.

The Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister working in collaboration with allied agencies, will ensure law and order is maintained, respect and promoted in the country; constitutional rights are adhered to; dispense the right legal advise to the national and state governments as well as guide on the right dispute resolution mechanisms for the administrations among other very crucial assignments.

Observers say Dr. Geng Akec inherits heavy responsibilities at a time when the justice sector is under pressure to deliver.

“The Justice Ministry is the heartbeat of South Sudan’s democratic transition,” a Juba-based legal expert said. “This appointment is not just a reshuffle, but a test of how the government intends to handle reforms, and accountability in the countdown to the elections.”

It will be seen how the new minister juggles the tasks to ensure a stable, future-proof system.

Other leadership changes

Meanwhile, beyond the Justice Ministry, the reshuffle touched several other high-level positions. Hon. Mary Nawai, one of the few women in cabinet, was moved from Parliamentary Affairs to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, a move expected to boost youth engagement, gender parity and sports development.

Further, Emmanuel Primo Okello was removed as Governor of Western Bahr el-Ghazal State, and Sherif Daniel Sherif named as his replacement. Okello leaves office after a period marked by relative stability in a diverse and politically sensitive state.

Additionally, Taban Abel was dismissed as Deputy Commissioner of the South Sudan Revenue Authority and replaced by John Malek.

Analysts view the changes as part of Kiir’s broader strategy to enhance service delivery at a time critical in the nation’s stature.

For ordinary citizens, the hope is that the new team will translate their assignments into visible reforms and evidence-based scorecards.

As one Juba resident put it via a social media comment “We want to see the officials and institutions delivering for all people. If the move translate into real change and accountability, then it is a good step forward.”