The leadership council of South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) is calling on the revitalised government to revoke recent decision that shall establish Malakal Town as municipality of Upper Nile State.

The decision endorsed on Friday in a meeting chaired by the country First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar—who is a leader of Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO)— shall relocate Makal County headquarters to Wau Shilluk, away from the town in western bank of River Nile.

Dr. Martin Elia Lomoro, Minister of Cabinet Affairs announced the new plan of the coalition government on Friday last week saying this will allow subsequent establishing of Makal Municipality in the town.

However, the move sparked condemnations from not only SSOMA, but also members of Malakal Community in diaspora. The community members are calling for its immediate revocation to prevent potential threat to peaceful coexistence of people of Upper Nile State associated with decision.

In the statement issued on Saturday March 13, a day after the endorsement of the move by R-THoNU, SSOMA described the move as unfortunate and unconstitutional policy tantamount to land grabbing.

“The leadership council of South Sudan Opposition Movement Alliance (SSOMA) is deeply disturbed by the unconstitutional decision made by R-TGoNU on 12/3/2021 detaching the historic town of Malakal from Makal County. This unfortunate decision is not only unconstitutional, but it poses a serious security threat to the entire county leading to eventual total disintegration.

“This decision has no constitutional basis nor is it supported by the R-ARCSS. The Juba regime must immediately stop its policy of land grabbing,’ the statement partly read.

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A prominent South Sudan politician, Dr. Lam Akol, also said it violates the revitalised agreement, Upper Nile State Constitution and late Dr. John Garang’s 2004 order that created Makal County.

“The capital has always been Malakal town when Malakal Municipality was introduced sometime between 2010 and 2012. Its capital coexisted with that of Makal County in Malakal town, what is new this time around?” Dr. Lam was quoted by the Sudan Post.