IDPs protest relocation of Makal County headquarters

The internally displaced persons in Malakal United Nations Protection of Civilians Site (PoC) in Upper Nile State, today took to the streets in a peaceful demonstration against a government decision to relocate Makal county headquarters.

The internally displaced persons in Malakal United Nations Protection of Civilians Site (PoC) in Upper Nile State, today took to the streets in a peaceful demonstration against a government decision to relocate Makal county headquarters.

Last Friday, the government announced that it had reached an agreement to relocate Makal County headquarters from Malakal Town to Wau-Shilluk on the West Bank of the White Nile after a meeting attended by First Vice President and SPLM-IO leader Dr. Riek Machar, Presidential Advisor on Security Tut Gatluak, Minister of Cabinet Affairs Martin Elia Lomuro, and Upper Nile state governor Budhok Ayang and his deputy James Tor Monybuny.

However, the decision has been widely criticized by locals, civil society activists, and politicians from Upper Nile state.

In their petition letter to the UN Mission in South Sudan, the Chollo community in Malakal PoC said the move is illegal and is aimed at pleasing the Apadang Dinka section at the expense of the Chollo people.

The Paramount Chief of the Lelo community, Udam Ajak told Radio Tamazuj that the peaceful march was organized by the Chollo community in the camp to reject the government's decision. 

"We, as a community of Lelo, which includes Makal, refuse to transfer the district to the western mainland. The county will remain in place because the decision to transfer it is a matter related to its residents. It cannot be transferred without consultation with its people. So, we went out on a peaceful march to express our rejection of the government decision,” he said.

For his part, the Paramount chief of the Naqdiar community John Odwok said the decision cannot be imposed on them.

"We reject the decision that was imposed on the residents of the county. The transfer of the county is a decision to b made by the people of the area when and if they see a need too, not the government,” he said.

Odwok said those who suggested the relocation of the county headquarters are against efforts to maintain peace in the region. “We are with peace and it is not a time for war,” he added. 

The head of the camp’s peace and security committee James Akuoch said that the protestors delivered an official letter to the United Nations, expressing their rejection of the government's decision. 

“If they do not want the capital to be in Malakal, they must move the capital, but we refuse to transfer the Makal county, and we will hand over the letter to the official of the United Nations mission in Malakal and international regional organizations," Akuoch added.

They called for the revocation of the decision and urgent appointment of Makal county commissioner. Last month the president announced the formation of state governments but Makal county's commissioner was not appointed.