JUBA, March 12 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan's President Salva Kiir on Thursday evening named 35 cabinet ministers for service in the transitional unity government after a series of delays involving a dispute with the main opposition group -- the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-In-Opposition (SPLM-IO).

"In exercise of powers conferred upon me under article 101(d) of the transitional constitution of the Republic of South Sudan 2011, I, Salva Kiir, president of South Sudan, do hereby issue this republican decree for the appointment of ministers in the Transitional Government of National Unity," read the decree aired on the South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) in Juba.

Under the 2018 revitalized peace deal signed by the leaders in Ethiopia, the government side named 20 out of 35 ministerial positions, the SPLM-IO got nine positions, and the rest are shared among other fringe political parties.

Kiir appointed Beatrice Khamisa Wani-Noah, former ambassador to Germany, as the new foreign minister replacing Awut Deng Acuil, and Angelina Teny, wife of First Vice President Riek Machar, as the new minister of defense and veterans' affairs. He also appointed Puot Kang Chol as the new minister of petroleum and Henry Odwar, deputy chairperson of the SPLM-IO, as the new minister of mining.

Among those retaining their positions include Salvatore Garang Mabiordit as finance minister, Michael Makuei Lueth as minister of information and broadcasting, and Martin Elia Lomuro as cabinet affairs minister.

South Sudan descended into conflict in December 2013, after President Kiir sacked his deputy Machar, who later founded the SPLM-IO, leading to fights between soldiers loyal to their respective leaders.

After years of civil war, the youngest country in Africa formed a transitional unity government on Feb. 22, 2020, when Machar was sworn in as the first vice president. Enditem

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