South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Mayak Majak Madit Tokjok
The Lakes State government inaugurated Abyei-Ajok as a new payam under Rumbek Central County on Friday. The event, officiated by Minister Mathiang Deng Monydit on behalf of Governor Gen. Rin Tueny Mabor, reflects the state’s policy of restructuring local administrations.
During the flag-raising ceremony to mark the official inauguration of Abyei-Ajok Payam in Rumbek Central County, the State Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Mathiang Deng Monydit, stated that it is the legal policy of the state government that empowers the governor to decree new payams.
He emphasized that defining payam and county borders is the sole mandate of the state authority and cannot be determined by individuals outside the government.
Mabor Meen Wol, the Minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement Agencies in Lakes State, announced that the administration will immediately appoint a payam administrator based on the hierarchy of administrators.
He noted that Governor Rin Tueny Mabor has alleviated the suffering of the civil population of Lakes State, which had for many years been dominated by communal conflict.
He stressed that land disputes should be based solely on plots and warned that no one should take the law into their own hands by violently displacing any community from the area.
He further cautioned chiefs and local leaders against harmful cultural practices, such as the removal of lower teeth and marking of foreheads.
The Member of National Parliament and son of Abyei-Ajok, Hon. Dr. Paul Akol Paul Khordit, advised the community of Monytiik not to miswrite Abyei-Ajok as Abin-Jok.
He stressed that if miswritten, the upcoming generation would not know the correct spelling and meaning of the name.
He stated that tribalism, with its narrow capacity for thinking, cannot progress the people and highlighted the difference between peacekeeping and peacebuilding.
He also noted that social inequality in resource distribution—where individuals own large plots of land without benefiting the community—is completely wrong.
Lakes State Police Commissioner, Maj. Gen. Chol Atem Jongeth, asserted that the prevailing peace in the state will foster lasting unity among chiefs and civilians.
He called on parents to take proper care of their children, describing them as the seeds of the nation.
He also urged the communities of Abyei-AJok and Cuei-Adukan payams to work closely with the police.
Nelson Makoi Makur, the State Minister of General Education and Instruction, congratulated the President of the Republic of South Sudan, H.E. Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit, on the appointment of Governor Rin Tueny Mabor.
He stated that the governor has served the community of Lakes State with joy through the establishment of new payams.
The Caretaker Minister for Information, William Koji Kirjok, confirmed to the media in a press statement that the government of Lakes State is ready to serve its civil population by meeting their demands after completing local government procedures. These include the upgrading of the twin payams of Cuei-Adukan and Abyei-Ajok.
He explained that the distance and population size qualified the Monytiik and Panyon communities for the elevation of their bomas to payams through the Council of Ministers and the request of the population.
He added that the delivery of public services and development is the role and responsibility of the state government, especially after Governor Rin Tueny Mabor restored peaceful coexistence.
The Mayor of Rumbek Municipality, Akhol Manyang Magom, urged the administration of Local Government and Cabinet Affairs to take caution in managing the municipality and payams under the territory of Rumbek town, noting differences in law, order, and the location of payam headquarters.
Cde. Adongthiar Padhil Maker, Chairperson of the SPLM Party for Rumbek Central County and Executive Director, announced that candidates for payam SPLM secretaries should submit their applications to the county headquarters.
He explained that the formation of bomas under Abyei-AJok and Cuei-Adukan payams will be guided by registration records prepared by the executive chiefs.
The Paramount Chief of Abyei-AJok Payam, Malok Malual Malok, commended the state government for accepting the community’s request as part of delivering services to the people.
He noted that various communities of Lakes State live peacefully alongside the people of Abyei-AJok Payam.
He added that the new payam is a historical place known to the late Father of the Nation, Dr. John Garang de Mabior, who was warmly welcomed by the Monytiik community during the struggle for self-determination from the Arabs.
