Advisors of the Jonglei State government who were evicted from their offices on 30 May say they have since been discharging duties from their houses.
The state’s human rights advisor, Simon Manyok Deng, told Radio Tamazuj Thursday that he and the advisors for economic affairs, legal affairs, child, gender and social welfare, and peace and security are all working from their homes.
He said they were asked to vacate the office they have been occupying since 2021 to create space for the state secretary-general.
“Since our appointment in 2021, we have been operating from an office within the Secretariat-General. The Secretariat houses the office for the governor, his deputy, the secretary-general, and advisors and the cabinet affairs minister,” he explained. “On directives from our governor, we were asked that we leave the site from which we have been operating to create a room for the government’s secretary-general. We were asked to temporarily remain at home until a new office is found for us.”
Manyok said he has since been operating from his house and that the experience is a difficult one.
“Government work is run daily, so this will affect our efforts to deliver. Again, even if one has a private office in their house, it cannot be used to run official affairs of the government,” He said. “So, my appeal is that a solution be found soon.”
When contacted for comment, Elizabeth Nyadak, the state government spokesperson, said she could not comment on the matter.
Ter Manyang, a South Sudanese political observer, said the new development in Jonglei State only adds to the already precarious situation there and that it could deepen mistrust among government officials.
“Advisors are advising the whole state government in Jonglei if they are not to have offices, one may ask why they were appointed in the first place,” he said. “Advisors will not be able to do their work. They will feel neglected. This is all due to mistrust and a lack of collaboration within the state government.”