The commissioner of Nyirol County in Jonglei State, James Bol Makuey, has been removed from his position and expelled from the headquarters in Lankien town, as political tensions escalate between the opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In-Opposition (SPLM-IO) and the ruling SPLM.
Under the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), power-sharing arrangements allocate Nyirol—an SPLM-IO stronghold—to President Salva Kiir’s SPLM. However, South Sudan’s fragile peace, established by the agreement, remains under strain.
Nyirol County Information Director Both Jal told Radio Tamazuj on Friday that the commissioner had left his residence in Lankien for his home village of Pulturuk.
“There was a meeting at the residence of the commissioner this morning. His family came from the village, and it was resolved that the commissioner vacate his duties and return to where he was appointed because the 2018 deal has collapsed,” Jal said. “The commissioner was resistant to leave but was forced out by SPLM-IO and local youth.”
Jal said calm had returned to Lankien following the commissioner’s departure. “The commissioner was escorted to Pulturuk by police and his family. From there, he will find a way to return to Juba. After his exit, the market reopened because fears of imminent clashes were gone,” he added.
Repeated attempts to reach the embattled commissioner for comment were unsuccessful.
Joseph Bayak, the county’s executive director, confirmed that the county commissioner had been ousted.
“The majority of the people and forces in Nyirol are loyal to SPLM-IO. After reports of their leader, Dr. Riek Machar, being under house arrest, they were unhappy,” Bayak said. “So they asked the commissioner to leave because they don’t want to be ruled by the SPLM.”
Bayak said the community had tasked him with serving as acting commissioner until political tensions in Juba are resolved.
“I will act as commissioner until the political situation is resolved. For now, the situation is calm, and the county commissioner is in his village of Pulturuk,” he said.
SPLM officials in Jonglei state could not immediately be reached for comment.