Authorities in Pochalla County of Greater Pibor Administrative Area have ordered NGOs operating in the county to fire staff accused of involvement in recent conflict in the county, according to sources from the area.

A number of people were killed in fighting after a food distribution in June.

Commissioner of Pochalla North County Omot Okwal has written a letter addressed to all NGOs operating in the county asking them to terminate contracts of staff working for them. Five staff are specifically named.

The authorities say they want the staff out of the county – an order that could violate the rights of the staff as guaranteed under the transitional constitution.

NGOs seem to be reluctant about the order and are still looking into the matter, another source indicated.  

In a separate report from Pochalla, a man was knocked down last Friday by a car allegedly belonging to a county official, according to local sources. The man who was reportedly intoxicated was sleeping in the grass when the car ran over him near Obowdi village in Pochalla South County.