Activist Protests Dismissal of Chiefs in Bor County

By Awan Achiek

The Intrepid South Sudan (ISS), a Jonglei-based civil society group, on Saturday demanded the reinstatement of three chiefs dismissed by the County Commissioner of Bor County.

Last week, Bor County Commissioner James Gai Makor issued an order dismissing three traditional chiefs after they opposed their inclusion in the newly created ChueiKeer Payam.

The chiefs, Mariar Maluil, Aguto Chol, and Angeth Noon, were removed from their positions following a letter they wrote on Tuesday rejecting Goi Boma’s integration into the new administrative unit.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Intrepid South Sudan expressed its disappointment with the manner in which the Commissioner of Bor County is managing affairs.

“We are urging the Minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement to intervene by reversing this unlawful and unjustifiable dismissal of the chiefs of Goi Boma and reinstating them accordingly,” reads part of a statement extended to the Dawn on Saturday.

It stated that the people of Jonglei State are not interested in the creation of more administrative units.

Instead, they want basic services, such as road connectivity, health care, employment, and security, among others.

“We therefore want to appeal to His Excellency Dr. Riek Gai Kok to guide his administration in providing these and more essential and life-saving services to the people of Jonglei State,” it said.

“And avoid actions that could potentially instigate unnecessary communal feuds.”

It added that the chiefs are the most important foundation of local government, stating that their dismissal for opposing the commissioner is unlawful.

“Instead, they ought to be guided and supported, not condemned, especially outside the confines of the law.”