Audio: Nationaly DG Gen Maduot on 28 States in processing National Documents

Abide by 28 States: Nationality, Passports and Immigration DG tells Applicants

The controversial 28 States President Salva Kiir created last year are “official” in processing of all national documents hence all applicants have to abide by it, reveals the director general of Nationality, Passports and Immigration, Augustino Maduot Parek.

General Maduot argues that the States are constitutionally created, already functioning with governors, and are “considered as official in processing the documents.”

“Of course for new applicants you have to abide with [by] this. If I was born in Juba [County], then I will say I was born in Jubek State. It is apparent that we are complying with what [the] Constitution and the Executive Order establishing these States say,” Madut told Radio Bakhita in an exclusive interview yesterday. “Where there are no ‘official counties’ created; we only abide with previous counties.”

IGAD Council of Ministers

IGAD Council of Ministers, in a communiqué welcomed by the government and SPLM/A IO, said the decision of the Government to implement the Presidential Decree on the creation of 28 new states is inconsistent with the terms of the peace agreement.

The Council urged the Parties, subsequent to the formation of the TGoNU at national level, in the absence of agreement on the creation of new states, to suspend further action on implementing the operationalization of new states until an inclusive, participatory National Boundary Commission comprising all Parties to the peace agreement reviews proposed states and their boundaries, and that this review process occur, for a period of up to one month.

In the event there are outstanding disputes at the end of the boundary commission review process, the Parties should revert to the provisions of the Agreement, the Communiqué added.

General Maduot said the Nationality, Passports and Immigration Department will “cope” to any changes with regards to the number of states. “I will comply with any decision that comes out from the Cabinet to my minister [Minister of Interior] and directives from my ministry because this is my work as a technician. So we will cope to [with] any changes that will come,” he said.

Confusion or Complication?

The DG said officers are deployed to give necessary information to new applicants on the changes.

“For those who will not know, we have competitive offices who will give you all the necessary information. You may say the old county…. our officers are aware of all counties and will say (tell you) [the] old County belongs to ‘this State.’ It is straight forward, there is no complication,” General Maduot said.

He called on South Sudanese to process their national documents in order to exercise their rights, including the right to participate in democratic processes, the right to employment and services.

Maduot argues that it is also very important for every citizen to have a national certificate to help the government establish a national (electronic) database and “move away from manual records.”

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