Newly appointed Ministers of the Azande Kingdom take oath in a ceremony administered by elders of the royal family for oath-taking on Friday, 9th February 2024. (Photo: Charles Wote | Eye Radio).

The King of Azande, Atoroba Peni Rikito Gbudue II has appointed a Prime Minister and four Ministers to his royal administration two years after his coronation to replace King Gbudue, who died more than a century ago.

His Majesty Atoroba on Friday appointed Prince Tedeo Mario Sasa as Prime Minister of the Azande Kingdom, which was restored in February 2022, with the help of the national government.

The King also appointed Roto Anibiapai Enoka as the Minister for King’s Affairs, Royal Family, Information and Communication, Land, Azande in diaspora and other Affairs.

Bagboro Betuel Richard Bagboro was appointed as the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Natale Fortinato Zingisi as the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, and Christin Ngbaazande appointed as the Minister of Development, Gender and Children’s Affairs.

Sebit Angelo Obebe who hails from Torit, Eastern Equatoria State was appointed as a represented of other tribes to the monarchy.

They were sworn in before the monarch after undergoing royal ceremonies administered by elders of the royal family and witnessed by thousands of people at the new palace in Bazungua Payam.

King Atoroba formed his royal cabinet after President Salva Kiir gave it a greenlight – resulting in the creation of the monarchy’s anthem and raising of the Azande flag.

In his address, King Atoroba directed the new Cabinet Ministers to work with relevant government institutions for the realization of peace and unity in the Kingdom.

“The Azande Kingdom stands on four pillars of which you the Prime Minister and Ministers need to do, the first of which is peace,” the King told his subjects.

“Since I came in all the two years I have spent, I have not stepped on someone toe, I am respecting people, I am speaking slowly, I am not selfies because I am not rude because I am not impolite.”

“It need the Kingdom to be polite because we have come to establish a Kingdom which has many communities because now there is government, Payam administrator is there, Commissioner is there, Ministers are there, Governor is there.”

“Laws are there governing the country, we don’t want confusion, let you come and follow my footstep whenever I will be going.”

For his part, the Minister of Presidential Affairs, Bangasi Joseph Bakosoro, said President Salva Kiir emphasized the need for the Kingdom to restore peace and unity among its subjects.

“The message of peace is what the President emphasized seriously among you the citizens of the Kingdom and amongst the South Sudanese people,” Bakosoro said.

“The Azande Kingdom has been peaceful, and he urged all of us to be peaceful, no division, no hatred no war, no conflict people must stay in peace.”