Aweil West Commissioner summoned by state assembly over insecurity

Northern Bahr al Ghazal State’s Legislative Assembly on Wednesday summoned Aweil West County Commissioner Garang Kuac Ariath to answer questions about insecurity in the county.

Northern Bahr al Ghazal State’s Legislative Assembly on Wednesday summoned Aweil West County Commissioner Garang Kuac Ariath to answer questions about insecurity in the county.

Some MPs have accused the commissioner of running away when South Sudanese rebels attacked Nyinbuoli, Achana,and Mayom Akuak Rel areas of Aweil West County early this month.

Garang Kuach denied all allegations made against him saying that when the first attack started he was in Aweil town and after he learned about the fighting he went to the county the following day.

He told Radio Tamazuj that the rebels carried out separate attacks in the county, saying he was absent during an attack on Achana administrative unit on 4 June. “I was in Aweil town to look after my farm during the attack on Achana,” he said.

But the official insisted that he witnessed the recent rebel attack on Nyinbuoli area. “People believed that I ran away because the network was cut off in the area,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Garang Mawen, head of the information committee in the parliament, told Radio Tamazuj the commissioner committed many mistakes, without elaborating in detail. But he claimed that the commissioner failed to visit areas that rebels had passed through.

The MP also said that the commissioner will not be allowed to return back to his county before a final decision is taken be the state parliament.

Meanwhile, the commissioner also claimed that the rebels have placed land mines in areas of Achana and Nyinbuoli.