A delegation of 10 state government officials that was being detained since 6 May by a group of disgruntled youths in Jonglei State has been released, local officials said.
The delegation consisting of state ministers, an advisor, and members of the state parliament, was led by the state’s roads minister Mawich Makuach. The delegation was on an official mission to the Gadiang area, where they were held by angry youths demanding cash for providing services along a road being constructed there.
Elizabeth Nyadak, the state information minister, told Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday morning that the disgruntled youths had their concerns addressed and that the detained officials are now freed.
“The government officials came back yesterday. They are already in Bor,” she said. “Those youths were demanding some money from the African Resource Corporation (ARC) company, but their money is already paid, and this is why they released the government officials. “
Nyadak, who is also the state government spokesperson, said her colleagues arrived in Bor safely and that they were all in good health.
Meanwhile, Duk County Commissioner Peter Latjor Chuol also confirmed the release of the detained government officials.
“Those officials were freed and are already in Bor,” he said. “The youth were demanding 3-month wage arrears for providing security in an ongoing construction of the Gadiang road. There was a delegation which came from Juba that cleared the arrears.”
Ter Manyang Gatwech, a civil society activist who was following up on the matter, said the officials were released after a consensus was reached.
“Those youths provided security during the bush clearance for the road. The government failed to provide their incentives on time. The youths received some incentives because they were demanding full incentives from the state government and ARC. In the process, a delegation was sent from Juba and they talked to the youths. Each person was supposed to receive 50,000 SSP per day. Last time they rejected 16 million SSP, saying that it was not enough, so I think they received more than that at the weekend,” Ter explained.
He added, “The way forward for this not to happen again is that when they engage the youth in the future, the government should be clear on terms and conditions. There must be a clear mechanism for those youths to understand the terms and conditions in a language they understand.”