South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
The Commissioner of Pigi County, Suleiman Deng Thon, has condemned the recent establishment of a parallel civil authority in Pigi County, Jonglei State, by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO).
“The move by the opposition to establish a parallel civil authority is unlawful and violates the revitalised 2018 peace agreement,” Thon stated.
“The creation of this parallel administration is unacceptable; the agreement allocates Pigi County to the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA), as was agreed upon by the parties,” he added.
Last week, Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, the exiled deputy chairperson of SPLM-IO, issued an executive order establishing a parallel civil authority in areas controlled by the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO).
In his executive order, Pierino appointed Chol Kuol Chol Awan as the Acting Commissioner of Pigi County, representing SPLM-IO under this parallel administration.
Several activists have warned that SPLM-IO’s move to establish a parallel civil authority in its controlled areas could signal the collapse of the peace agreement.
In 2024, Suleiman Deng Thon Kuol, a member of the National Democratic Movement (NDM), was appointed as the commissioner of Pigi County, representing the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA).
