Awerial Anglican Bishop Appointed Dean of Internal Province

By Awan Achiek

The Awerial Diocesan Bishop of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan has been appointed as the Dean of the Eastern Bahr el Ghazal Internal Province.

His Grace Alapayo Manyang Kuoctiel, Archbishop of the Eastern Bahr el Ghazal Internal Province, made the appointment on May 1, 2025, at the Rumbek Diocese.

This position is the second most powerful role in the Internal Province, following the Archbishop.

Bishop Akau becomes the first bishop of the Awerial Diocese to be appointed as dean of the Eastern Bahr el Ghazal Internal Province since the diocese was formed in 2008.

Bishop Akau, who also serves as Secretary of the House of Bishops of Eastern Bahr el Ghazal Internal Province, expressed gratitude to the Archbishop for his appointment as dean.

“I am happy with the system. I am also pleased with my bishop, our primate, and the structure of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan,” Akau told Dawn in an interview on Friday.

He is expected to serve as dean of the Eastern Bahr el Ghazal Internal Province for 10 years.

 “I am really happy with the role that has been given to me. And I will serve under our archbishop and also serve the same system of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan.”

He revealed plans for the first-ever pastoral visit to all the dioceses of the Eastern Bahr el Ghazal Internal Province to share the gospel.

“I have already met with my archbishop, and we discussed several initiatives we will undertake. One of our main goals is to conduct a pastoral visit to all the dioceses of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan,” he said.

Akau requested the faithful to pray for him as he assumes this new role and to pray for peace in the country.

“We will address some of the challenges facing our church in the internal province. There are several dioceses that are currently vacant, and we have had a bishop retire this year.”