Machar’s party condemns ‘unlawful’ suspension of Aweil West commissioner

JUBA – South Sudan’s main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) has condemned what it describes as an unlawful suspension of the Aweil West County Commissioner Majok Piol Mayen by Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Governor Tong Akeen Ngor.

In a gubernatorial decree on November 7, Governor Ngor suspended Mayen pending investigation into allegations that a suspicious plane carrying unknown materials landed in the County headquarters Nyamlel without the knowledge of the state authorities.

In a statement extended to Sudans Post, the SPLM-IO leader in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Angelina Aweng Abraham said the suspension of the commissioner is “politically motivated and is a result of political wrangles in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State.”

The senior opposition official stated that the plane that’s alleged to be suspicious by state authorities in Aweil town belongs to a local NGO and that the County Commissioner had ordered the plane crew to report to the state security agencies.

“As a matter of concern and necessity, the chartered plane is for the New Life Ministry Organization that has been operating in Aweil West County Nyamlel in schools and churches,” said Aweng who is also the deputy speaker of parliament in Northern Bahr el Ghazal.

“On the same note, the county Commissioner personally ordered the crew members: specifically, the pilot to report to the state authorities which we believe it was the normal and appropriate procedure to do at his capacity,” she stated.

The opposition official went further to charge that “On the contrary, the security personnel at the county level did not take the commissioner’s orders as required but they gave different reports on an allegation that the county Commissioner is not cooperating with the security apparatus and state authorities.”

“We, believe this is not true and it is only intended to tarnish the image and reputation of the county Commissioner and the SPLM-IO state leadership,” she said. “In light of the aforementioned grievances, the SPLM-IO state leadership in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state condemns the actions of the state Governor in the strongest terms possible.”

The statement said that the actions of the governor “are unlawful and it is indeed a clear violation of the agreement on the resolution of the conflict in the Republic of South Sudan and Northern Bahr el Ghazal in particular.”

It further concluded that the governor “has no absolute rights and powers to suspend, revoke and relieve any SPLM-IO constitutional post-holders in the state government without prior consultations from the relevant authorities of the SPLM-IO in Aweil.”

“We also assert that the notion that all the political parties in Aweil are peacefully co-existing is null and void. This is just a claptrap from SPLM-IG led by Tong Akeen Ngor and it is only meant to divert the attention of the public in Aweil.”