The Caretaker Governor of Lakes state Major Gen. Matur Chut Dhuol on Friday issued a decree appointing Madong Muorwel Nyot as commissioner of Rumbek North County.
Madong replaces Abaham Maloth Marier who was killed on an official visit to neighboring Panyijar County of Unity state in May 2015 by suspected rebel forces.
Since then the county was left without any commissioner amid mounting challenges of insecurity, revenge killings and cattle raiding.
Rumbek North County SPLM Secretary Joseph Nyiec Chol has criticized the selection of the new commissioner, claiming that he was a member of the United Democratic Front (UDF) until the day of his appointment.
Nyiec said that when a member from another political party resigned from his or her party and joins the SPLM party he or she must be kept under observation for some time before being given such a senior appointment.
Joseph Nyiec added that the appointment of Madong Muorwel has disappointed the SPLM party members at the state level. Nyiec is appealing to SPLM national secretariat to unite party members to have one voice and one decision.
Another resident of Maper in Rumbek North Councy voiced the same complaint, adding also that the commissioner may have been appointed on the basis of the prestige of his family.