NBGS: Aweil east rejects order relieving local chief

May 12, 2010 (WUNROK) — Residents of Wanyjok in Aweil East County, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, have today protested a decision taken by the county commissioner, Diing Aher Ngong, relieving Peter Makuac Makuac Kuol who is a sultan of Pingdon community.

Sultan Peter Makuac is accused to have mobilized his section to vote against SPLM candidates. But the local chief denied influencing his section to vote against any candidate.

In a local order extended to Sudan Tribune, Commissioner Diing Aher said he has relieved Chief Peter Makuac Makuac effective this Wednesday. “I, Mr. Diing Aher, the County commissioner of Aweil East, have issued a degree relieving Sultan Peter Makuach Makuach Kuol effective today from his office as Ex Chief of Pingdong Section and I replaced him with Mr. Arol Kuol Makuach.”

“I did not tell any member of community to vote in favor or against any candidate during the elections because voting his an individual right that should not be influenced,” Chief Peter Makuac told a gathering at Wanyjok, hours prior to the meeting with commissioner on Wednesday.

He further said the Commissioner is holding him responsible for voting against SPLM candidates without any apparent reason.

Embraced by his designation in this clannish position, Mr. Arol Kuol, who is appointed to replace Sultan Peter declined to accept the job saying it would create troubles and divisions among the family. Also he said preferring to dedicate his time to his work as medical practitioner with an international aid group in Aweil Twon.

Reacting to commissioner’s decision, Makuac Kuol, said he disagrees with Aweil East commissioner intervention and called on the commissioner to reconsider his decision.

He said chiefdom is a family affair that should not be confused with local government affairs. Diig is “not in a not in position of removing Sultan Chief and we did not ask the commissioner for his removal,” Makuac said.

He further underscored that the commissioner is not from their chiefdom and they reject such intervention.

“If Diing wants to exercise his power, he must exercise it somewhere in Wun Diing Achol,” referring to the community from where the commissioner comes. “He should try it with his uncle Executive Chief Ngong Deng Ngong by replacing him with his brother, but not in our community,” he said.

(ST)