Deng Deng Akuei, governor of the proposed Aweil East State has issued an order sacking a local border town mayor, sparking questions trying to understand the cause. Governor Deng, according to his order which became public on Friday, removed Yel Deng Nguel from his position without appointing an immediate replacement after the changes.
Yel was the town mayor of Majok Yinh thieu, an area located on the border between South Sudan and Sudan from which the country seceded in 2011 following the conduct of an internationally monitored referendum in compliance with the provision of the 2005 peace agreement which ended the more than two decade conflict between the north and south.
The area, according to the local accounts, lies between the Lou and Wundeng areas stretching northward of Sudanese controlled territories in Meiram and Sadama. The two areas now form the current Malualbai County in the newly created Aweil East state. But other local officials are currently claiming an ownership to a neigbouring Madhol county. No official complain has been launched, though a low tension has been at play since the area came to be significant to the local administration. The ousted town mayor confirmed in an interview on Sunday that he was no longer the mayor.
“Oh yes, I am no longer the mayor of Majok yinh thieu. I am now more than three days since the changes were made by the governor”, said Yel. He added that he does not object the changes. “This is the decision of the governor. I have no objection,” he said when asked on Sunday how he feels after removal less than three months after appointment.