Organized forces in Northern Bahr al Ghazal State’s capital city Aweil have deployed in areas of Aweil town amid high political tension following the resolution to impeach Governor Kuel Aguer.
A bloc of members of parliament associated with Kuel’s predecessor Paul Malong sought to impeach Kuel in a vote on Monday. The governor objected to the resolution in an interview with Radio Tamazuj broadcast to the area this morning.
According to an eyewitness in Aweil town, “Police forces and military forces deployed around the town this morning. There is restriction of movement.” Sources also said that some traditional leaders may have been arrested and some roads to the capital have been closed, though details have not yet been confirmed.
But the Speaker of the Assembly Isaac Makau Ayok downplayed the security deployments saying they amounted to just “normal police” presence.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj today, he also responded to a press conference given by the Council of Ministers in Aweil yesterday, at which Kuel’s ministers declared the impeachment resolution to be illegal and invalid.
Isaac said the ministers have no authority to challenge the state parliament’s decision: “How are they rejecting the resolutions passed against the caretaker governor of impeachment and they are not the legal body that can discuss the assembly resolution?”
He also disclosed that he signed and filed the resolution of impeachment only this morning — though the actual vote on the measure was reported to have taken place on Monday.
Kuel himself is reported to be in Juba and not in Aweil.