The deputy governor of Upper Nile State John Ivi Mounto issued a decision last week dissolving the State Workers Union.

A reliable source, who asked not to be named, told Radio Tamazuj that Ivo Mounto has given the head of Workers Union Adok Ajak an ultimatum to depart the State within 72 hours.

Ajack is accused by Upper Nile authorities of “inciting the workers to protest against the policies of the State government, and claims that the Union is abusing the ruling party in State”.

The decision reportedly followed a protest staged by workers including teachers and students in the State last week, due to alleged non-payment of their salaries by the State Ministry of Finance.

The source continued that the deputy governor accuses the Union of being involved in politics:

“The Union is not loyal to the State government and it has been politicized, it should be suppressed so as not to repeat what it had done” the source says.

The Civil Society Organisations in the State denounced the decision, and interpreted it as interference in the work of syndicated organisations in the Upper Nile State.

They also condemned the decision of expelling the head of the Workers Union from the State, and described the decision as “unjust”.