Awerial County authorities relocate cemetery for school expansion

RUMBEK – Awerial County authorities in South Sudan’s Lakes State has relocated its 200-square-meter cemetery to an area between Roordit and Amuom cattle camps to make way for the expansion of Kon Anok Secondary School, officials confirmed on Sunday.

The new cemetery site covers a total of 200 square meters and is situated approximately 8 kilometers from Mingkaman market.

Awerial County Commissioner Philip Mawut Garang explained to Sudans Post that in an interview that the creation of this new designated burial ground was necessary to allow for the development of Kon Anok Secondary School and provide educational opportunities for children in Awerial County.

“The new cemetery offers a dedicated space for burials and ensures the continued development of Kon Anok Secondary School,” Commissioner Garang said.

He emphasized that the old cemetery site, now designated as school premises, is no longer in use for burials. “Anyone found burying bodies there will be questioned by the authorities,” he said.

A previous plan to relocate the cemetery to an area between Roordit and Mingkaman town in 2014 was unsuccessful, explained Awerial County Mayor Deng Cuei.

“We are now officially launching the new cemetery situated between Roordit and Amuom to serve the people of Awerial County,” Cuei said.

The Director of Land and Survey, Daniel Parach Abuoi, detailed the division of the new cemetery.

“A 50-meter section is allocated specifically to the Muslim community, while the host community and internally displaced persons (IDPs) will share a designated 150-meter section,” he said.

The former cemetery land has been officially named Akon Anok Secondary School.