A local official, speaking anonymously from Malekalel, the Aweil County headquarters on Thursday morning, noted that the abrupt decision by local government authorities lacked detailed explanations for the suspensions, leaving the rationale behind the administrators’ removal unclear.
Rumours circulating within the county suggest that the commissioner, currently in Juba and affiliated with the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA), is acting contrary to the state government’s directives.
“What happened on Wednesday was shocking. As county officials, we received a letter from Aweil Town, the state government headquarters, stating that all payam administrators must stay home until further notice,” the official revealed.
The source further alleged that the commissioner, representing a different political party, is undermining coordination with the state government.
“We’ve heard that while the commissioner is in Juba, local government officials in Aweil decided to suspend the administrators and appoint new individuals aligned with their agenda,” the official stated.
The source also claimed that the county, under the leadership of the SSOA-affiliated commissioner, has been collecting local revenues directly from the administrators without remitting sufficient funds to the state’s accounts.
Another local administrator, also speaking anonymously, confirmed the situation to this outlet, noting that they are awaiting further clarity from Aweil.
“It’s a wait-and-see situation. The matter appears highly political, and at this stage, it remains fluid. I cannot provide further statements until the commissioner and the governor return from Juba to clarify how the county will function without the payam administrators and for how long,” the administrator remarked.
In South Sudan, the local government ministry is responsible for appointing payam and boma officials, who are tasked with collecting local taxes and providing security reports to the government.
