Jonglei governor appoints new county commissioners

December 3, 2014 (BOR) – The Governor of South Sudan’s Jonglei state, John Kong Nyuon has appointed new commissioners for Duk and Bor counties, weeks after sacking their predecessors.

The move, however, saw tension build-up in Kolnyang payam of Bor county, as many opposed the governor’s appointee. Ruk hails from Jale payam of Athoc section in Bor.

Some claimed their area had for long been neglected by government with very little since 2005.

Members of Kolnyang payam, at a private meeting of elders, chiefs and youth, reportedly resolved not to be part of the county administration, saying they have been deceived for long.

“The letter will be submitted to the office of the governor, telling him to caution the commissioner not to move to Kolnyang areas till the situation is softened. Already there is one opinion, one is to make Kolnyang an independent county, with a population of 41,000 people according 2008 census,” said a source who attended the meeting.

“But how to go about it will soon be discussed by the meeting that will be attended by Kolnyang intellectuals from Juba and outside”, he added.

But Mayom Ngong, a lawmaker from Kolnyang payam in the state assembly, opposed ideas against the current state administration.

“Yes, the community wants Kolnyang to be a separate county. That is what they are pushing for. I don’t agree with them,” said Ngong.

He also sent congratulatory messages to the new commissioner of Bor, on behalf of Kolnyang payam.

Members of the community have resolved to conduct face-to face meeting with the governor in order to directly voice their grievances.

“We will meet with or without him [Mayom] this time. We shall not include him as our eye to the government in all the affairs related to our payam. He has betrayed us a lot”, a youth leader said Tuesday.

The MP has, however, denied betraying his community, saying he only acted as someone elected by the community to the state assembly.

(ST)