The commissioner of Bor County dismissed three traditional community chiefs in Goi Boma after they opposed their inclusion in the newly established Chueikeer Payam.

By Riak Chol

A civil society activist in Jonglei State has revealed that the hard stance taken by some local chiefs against creation of new administrative units in the state has ignited tension and threatened the jobs of the administrators.

Since July, the state government embarked on establishing nearly 20 new Payams and Bomas, a move that sparked mixed reactions in the region, with some welcoming the decision while others raising concerns.

In Goi Boma of ChueiKeer Payam, Bor County, for instance, the directive ignited serious concerns, which allegendly led to the dismissal of three chiefs by the County Commissioner.

On August 12, James Gai Makor, the commissioner of  Bor County, dismissed three traditional community chiefs in Goi Boma after they opposed their inclusion in the newly established Chueikeer Payam.

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

In a press statement released Friday Bol Deng Bol, the Executive Director of Intrepid South Sudan expressed disappointment with the Commissioner’s ‘heavy-handed response to the chiefs’ peaceful objections.’

“Prior to their dismissal, the three chiefs had expressed their points of contention to the Commissioner for consideration, only to be removed,” Bol expressed.

“Is the act of questioning decisions of leaders an offense? Why must the chiefs in question be removed for peacefully expressing their views?” he added.

Deng further questioned whether freedom of expression is being misinterpreted as “gross misconduct, incompetence or incapacitation” –the legal grounds cited under the Local Government Act for dismissing traditional leaders.

He called on the Minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement to intervene by reversing the “unlawful and unjustifiable dismissal” of the chiefs and to reinstate them.

Additionally, Bol urged Jonglei Governor, Dr. Riek Gai Kok, to refocus his administration on addressing the people’s pressing needs rather than expanding administrative boundaries.

“The people of Jonglei State and South Sudanese across the country in general do not necessarily prioritize the creation of more administrative units,” said Bol.

“Instead, what they want are basic services such as road connectivity, health care, employment, and security,” he added.

Deng concluded with a reminder of the traditional leaders’ role in sustaining peace and governance at the grassroots level.

“Chiefs are the most important foundation of local government. They ought to be guided and supported, not condemned – especially outside the confines of the law,” he said.