The leadership of South Sudanese police have re-deployed the Northern Bahr el Ghazal State police commissioner to Jonglei state, amid reports implicating the official in involvement in local politics despite rules prohibiting security officials' involvement in politics.   

Multiple police sources at the police headquarters in Juba and local officials in Northern Bahr el Ghazal have confirmed, saying Major General Akot Deng Akot has received an order to move to Bor, capital of Jonglei with immediate effect.   

It was sent last week while he was away in his village. He had gone to attend a funeral rite of one of his relatives who passed away recently, a police officer said on Saturday.

The officer said the general had received an unusual letter in which he was reminded and warned to stay out of politics as the nation approaches legislative and presidential elections aimed at renewing the legitimacy of the government and in which issues related to how to bring peace and stability to the country will be central, and certainly divisive if not handled well.

The transfer may relate to concerns raised by local politicians that active military and police figures have been drawn into local politics in the state, with General Akot reported to have expressed desire to contest for the chairmanship of the governing Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) branch office in the state before retiring from active police service.

By law, in South Sudan active-duty military and security personnel are prohibited from taking part in politics while retired officers have full rights to do so.