Authorities in Aweil East County of Northern Bahr al Ghazal State have arrested eight members of the Chamber of Commerce there following last week’s disputes between supporters of the newly new appointed Chairperson Deng Garang Deng and allied traders of the outgoing chairperson Anuai Mou Akoon.
The arrests came in after traders and members of the chamber of commerce blocked the newly appointed chairman from taking over his office. Several were injured in the events.
According ot the Aweil East Chamber of Commerce Secretary for Finance Deng Makol Athian, the members have detained without clear reason. He accused the government of being behind the move. Deng added that traders have the right to elect their leader, blaming the national chamber for interfering in their affairs.
“Deng Garang has presented an illegal document saying that he was appointed in Juba, but that is false, we cannot accept that,” he said.
File photo: Aweil East County headquarters in Wanyjok