Pibor information minister fired after calling for disarmament in Jonglei

JUBA – The information minister of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) Jay Adingora Alual has said that he was fired last week for stating that there is need for disarmament of civilians in Jonglei state.

“After I had a meeting with the head of my line ministry Michael Makuei, I was interviewed on SSBC in which I spoke about child abductions, cattle raids, and a need for disarmament in Greater Jonglei,” he said in an interview with Radio Tamazuj.

“Those are obvious things. There is nothing unique but I think he (Lokali) was not happy that his tribe is mentioned as abductors,” he added.

The senior government official who is an ethnic Anyuak said his removal from the position could also be motivated by intercommunal tensions in Greater Pibor Administrative Area and said that he was threatened by the GPAA chief administrator over his remarks.

Jay, who hails from the Anyuak community, claimed his sacking could have also been triggered by inter-communal tensions in GPAA.

“After I went to the office the following day the chief administrator summoned me and threatened me that it was not my work to speak about the security situation,” he said.

“But I tried to explain to him that it was my work as a government spokesperson. But he could not listen and again for six months now there are tensions between the Anyuak and the Murle communities maybe my sacking is linked to it,” he added.

GPAA chief administrator confirmed the sacking for his part and said that the reason for the minister’s removal was because he was not delivering in his ministry.

“Yes, I fired the former information minister and it was administrative. Also, the former minister overstays in Juba. For me, I don’t have problems with the Anyuaks demanding a separate administration. They should go to the president and it would be up to the president if he wants to split GPAA into 10 states,” he said.