The National Council of States has formed a fact finding committee to probe the cause of a dispute involving two adjacent communities inhabiting areas now split into administrative units under Western Lakes and Gok state.
The six member committee was appointed on December 21, 2016, during an ordinary sitting no. 8/2016 chaired by Joseph Bol Chan, Speaker of the Council of State. The resolution of the decision forming the committee cited article 59 (g) h) of the Transitional Constitution 2011 (amended 2015) of the Republic of South Sudan read together with section 20, 21 of the Local government Act 2009, and regulations (7) (g) (h) of the Council of States conduct of Business regulations 2011(amended 2014), as the legal basis. The council, according to the resolution, named Faustino Atem Gualdit, as Chairperson of the committee with Anisia Achieng Karlo and Lewis Vito as Members. Others on the committee include Oliver Bakata Fraser, as support staff, with Emmanuel as Cameraman and Peter Macok as Reporter.
The task, according to the terms of reference for the committee, includes holding intensive consultations with all the stakeholders of the counties where the proposed new counties are supposed to be established. It would consider and examine the location and dispositions of the former county and based on the old Administrative units of payams. The committee should also consider the population status of the county to be recommended and the committee should report back to the Council of Business Committee within two weeks. They are expected to leave Juba for those states within two days to come. The Governor of Gok State, Madhang Majok Meen and Western Lakes state, Abraham Makoi Bol told Radio Tamazuj that, they have received a letter addressed to them by the Speaker of the Council of States in regards to the fact findings committee visit to their states, and they are ready to welcome them as soon as they arrived. Ngap and Bahr el Gel is a disputed area between Gok and Western Lakes states of which each state clam ownership. Many attempts have been made by the two Governors, but the tension in the area remains fragile.