The incident occurred on Monday, July 7, 2025, along the Yei–Tore Road as the victims were traveling to attend a community dialogue program

By Aguok Chok

The Central Equatoria State Government has strongly condemned the abduction of a Paramount Chief and two aid workers in Yei River County, describing the incident as a “criminal act” and calling on armed groups to stop targeting civilians.

The incident occurred on Monday, July 7, 2025, along the Yei–Tore Road as the victims were traveling to attend a community dialogue program. The three individuals included Paramount Chief Joseph Brown of Yei and two aid workers affiliated with a local non-governmental organization.

Speaking to journalists after the weekly Council of Ministers’ meeting in Juba, Hon. Jacob Aligo Lo-Lado, Acting Minister of Information and Communication, confirmed that the aid workers were released after paying a ransom.

“The Paramount Chief of Yei, Mr. Joseph Brown, and two aid workers were abducted along the Yei–Tore Road while on a peace mission,” said Hon. Aligo. “The Council of Ministers condemns this criminal act and urges all armed groups to cease targeting civilians.”

According to Hon. Aligo, the Paramount Chief was later released on Thursday evening following appeals from State and County authorities. He did not provide further details on the identity of the abductors or the exact circumstances of the release.

The condemnation was officially expressed during the State Council of Ministers’ meeting held on Thursday and chaired by H.E. Rabi Mujung Emmanuel, Governor of Central Equatoria State.

In addition to the security matter, the Cabinet discussed several other key issues affecting the State. Hon. Aligo stated that the Council reviewed a memorandum presented by the State Minister of Cabinet Affairs regarding taxation challenges and the need for harmonization between national and state-level tax policies.

“The Cabinet resolved to form a committee to define the State’s position and engage in dialogue with relevant national institutions to reach an amicable solution on matters of taxation and revenue collection,” he added.

The move comes amid ongoing consultations with the National Revenue Authority aimed at clarifying mandates and responsibilities between the different levels of government. The State is seeking to ensure its autonomy in generating and managing revenues without overlapping mandates that may confuse taxpayers and hinder service delivery.

On the broader security situation, the Cabinet received a briefing from security officials concerning events during South Sudan’s Independence Day celebrations. According to Hon. Aligo, the overall situation remained calm and peaceful, with only a few minor incidents reported across the State.

“The Minister commended security forces and the public for maintaining peace during the festivities,” he said.

The government has vowed to continue working closely with national authorities, humanitarian partners, and local communities to enhance security, ensure accountability, and prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future.

Authorities in Central Equatoria have also called on community members to report suspicious activities and support peacebuilding efforts aimed at restoring normalcy in Yei and other affected areas.