The Member of Parliament for Kolnyang in South Sudan's Jonglei state legislative assembly says Bor County commissioner will be appointed soon.
MP Ezra Mayom Ngong told Radio Tamazuj that the community is waiting for the newly appointed governor before a selection is made for the highly contested seat.
“The commissioner for Bor County has been allotted to the Kolnyang area. 12 people contested for the position but none was appointed. So, as a community, we said that when the governor is back in the state, we will be able to sit and start the selection process from the 12,” he said.
Two weeks ago, President Salva Kiir, issued a decree appointing advisors, ministers, county commissioners, among other positions in the Jonglei State government but Bor County, allotted to the ruling SPLM party, did not get a commissioner. No reason was given.
Mayom admitted that the people of Bor have suffered for a long time without services due to the absence of local government, and he urged them to be patient.
Jonglei State Deputy Governor, Antipas Nyok Kucha, blamed the delays on what he says are unresolved administrative issues within the county.
Nyok, who heads the SPLM party in Jonglei, added that the commissioner will be appointed as soon as the leadership gets back to the state.
Bol Deng Bol, a civil society activist in Bor, urged the relevant appointing authorities to immediately fill the slot, saying that the vacancy delays service delivery.
“The commissioner of Bor County until now remains unappointed. This is a concern in the sense that it may delay the swearing-in of the new officials. People of Jonglei have suffered a lot without services. They waited for a long time to see the state government formed,” Bol said.
He expressed fears that the delay in appointment may lead to the postponement of the swearing-in ceremony scheduled for March 12.