Machar forced by powerful generals to revoke appointment of new Rubkona commissioner

JUBA, AUGUST 27, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – South Sudan’s First Vice President and SPLM-IO leader Riek Machar Teny has been forced by his commanders in Unity State to revoke the appointment of Rubkona County Commissioner Dhol Koryom Lingling.

The commanders in late December pressured Machar to replace then commissioner Gatluak Wichar Nyah. In January, Machar fired Gatluak and replaced him with Koryom who would never take up his position owing to threats of detention by the commanders on the ground.

Speaking to Sudans Post on Saturday, a source close to the SPLM-IO leader said that the first vice president has been forced by the commanders to revoke Koryom’s appointment and name Kasare Juol Dador as the replacement.

“What happened last week is that the commanders in Dingding (SPLA-IO cantonment located outside Bentiu) are not pleased because when they called for the removal of the previous commissioner, they had a certain person they wanted as the commissioner,” the source said.

“After Dhoal Koryom’s appointment, they threatened that if he steps foot in Rubkona, they will arrest and detain him and that’s why since his appointment via a presidential decree in January, he has never been sworn in and he has never traveled to the county headquarters,” the source added.

He said Machar has submitted the name of the new nominee, Kathare Juol Dador, for appointment and that Kiir is expected in the next few days to issue a presidential decree revoking Koryom’s appointment and naming Kathare as the new commissioner.

“Everything has been submitted to the president. The chairman and commander in chief has asked the president to revoke the commissioner’s appointment and the name of the final nominee which is a person nominated by the commanders has been submitted and we expect a decree anytime,” he added.

Separately, a senior SPLM-IO official also told Sudans Post on condition of anonymity that commissioner Koryom has voluntarily given up his position to avoid disagreement and defection as a result of the commanders’ protest to his appointment.

“Honorable Dhoal Koryom has also chosen to give up the position because the commanders are making threats that may results in the split within the SPLA-IO in Unity State and this is why Dr. Machar easily heeded to their call even though he knows it is not their role as military commanders,” the source said.

When contacted by Sudans Post, commissioner Dhoal declined to comment.