Rumbek North Commissioner Marial Machar Aweckoc was removed by decree of Lakes Caretaker Governor Matur Chut Dhuol on Tuesday.

In an interview with Radio Tamazuj today, he linked his removal to a dispute over grazing lands involving herders from his county who relocated to another county. Machar said he was removed due to the presence of Pakam cattle keepers in Rumbek Centre area for grazing.

He said the Pakam pastoralists from Rumbek North migrated to Rumbek Centre area after they claimed their area was flooded, forcing them to move to Rup highlands in Rumbek Centre.

The ousted commissioner noted that he was part of a committee tasked to convince the Pakam cattle keepers to return to Rumbek North, but they refused. He said this was why he was removed.

Marial denied that there was any other reason for his removal besides the Pakam cattle keepers’ presence in Rumbek Centre. He noted that the Pakam and Rup communities have a long history of tensions, pre-dating the Pakam herders’ move into Rumbek Centre.

But the commissioner said he harbored no ill-will for his removal, thanking the Caretaker Governor Matur Chut for having appointed him to serve as commissioner.

“I will work closely with new Commissioner to resolve the outstanding issues” Marial stated

Neither the caretaker governor nor the information minister in the Lake State could be reached for comment on the removal of the commissioner.

Marial’s replacement has been named as Maloth Mariel Manyiel. 

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