A delegation of the Dinka Abilang community in Upper Nile state’s Renk County has called for the removal of Upper Nile State Governor Simon Kun Puoch by President Salva Kiir.
Simon Kun Puoch is a military figure and politician. He was elected as governor of Upper Nile state in the Sudanese general elections in April 2010.
South Sudan’s Transitional Constitution of 2011 stipulates that the president can remove a state governor in the event of a crisis. The president may appoint a caretaker governor to take the place of the previous governor, but that caretaker governor may only hold office for 60 days prior to the holding of an election for the position.
Yesterday the community leaders handed a petition on the matter to the Speaker of South Sudan’s Council of States Joseph Bol Chan.
The community protested what they termed “negligence of the county” by governor Kun Puoch since the outbreak of conflict in December last year.
The delegation said they would have met the state governor first to discuss the issues that the county is facing, but due to a “deteriorating relationship” between the governor and the community leaders they decided to approach the Council of States directly, according to Paramount Chief Agol Ayuel.
In a press statement yesterday, the chief said they prefer the state to be split rather than continue to be governed as is. They also complained of prevailing insecurity.
“The rebels are currently stationed on the west bank and another opposition force has crossed the White Nile, so that is a major security threat to the area,” he said.
The tribal leader further said that the Oil Protection Force (OPF) in the area is frustrated owing to non-payment of salaries and lack of reinforcement since its formation.
He also pointed out that over 1,500 new recruits are being trained to protect the county because the majority of government troops had rebelled.
The delegation also requested the government to open up border checkpoints with Sudan rather than relying on smuggling corridors.
“Fuel comes in through smuggling corridors along the Renk-White Nile-Sennar border. If not for this smuggling there would have not been a successful planting season this year in Upper Nile,” the chief said.
File photo: Simon Kun Puoch