Executive Branch Reform – 2005
2005
According to the CPA provision to reform the executive branch of the government, the institution of the presidency should be established with one president and two vice presidents. The CPA prescribed that the office of the Vice president, prior to the election, be filled within two weeks of the signing of the CPA. This did not occur. Nevertheless, the three member presidency was inaugurated on 9 July 2005. Omer Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir was sworn in as President, John Garang de Maribor as First Vice President and Ali Osman Mohamed Taha as Vice President. The First Vice President Dr. Garang was killed in a helicopter crash on 30 July 2005. The vacant position was filled by SPLM leader Lt. General Salva Kiir Mayardiit.1 The CPA also required that the Institution of Presidency adopt a collegial decision-making process and consult with the vice presidents. This satisfies the executive branch reform as the CPA provides.
Immediately after establishing the Government of National Unity (GoNU) on 20 September 2005, the presidency started to develop the formation and staffing of many commissions and Committees as specified by the CPA. By the end of October and November 2005, the presidency issued decrees to establish the Assessment and Evaluation Commission, the National Petroleum Commission, the Fiscal and Financial Allocation and Monitoring Commission and the Technical Ad Hoc Border Committee, the Cease-fire Political Commission, and National Judicial Service Commission.2 The Secretary General’s report also suggests that the presidency received the report defining the borders of the Abyei area from the Abyei Boundary Commission in July 2005, but had yet to implement the decision.
The executive branch of the government was reformed in 2005 by establishing a three member presidency and adopting a collegial decision making process.