Local authorities in the Lakes State capital Rumbek have confirmed that the SPLM-IO nominated commissioner in Yirol West County, Andrew Achieng Anhiem, who was briefly detained and taken to Rumbek has been released and suspended by Governor Rin Tueny Mabor.
The deputy governor who is the chairperson of SPLM-IO in Lakes State, Poth Madit Dut, told Radio Tamazuj Monday that the embattled commissioner who was arrested last Friday had been released and is now in Rumbek.
“The commissioner of Yirol West County, Andrew Achieng Anhiem, was detained but he has been released and is now in Rumbek town,” Deputy Governor Madit said. “There is an investigation into the cause of his arrest. So, as the SPLM-IO chairperson, I have nothing to tell the general public now but it will be later.”
The executive director of Yirol West County, Rin Maker Mading, said he has not met the commissioner since he returned to the county from Juba last week.
“I am currently in my house and I did not meet the commissioner,” Maker said.
For his part, the caretaker minister of information and communication, William Koji Kirjok, denied that Commissioner Achieng had been detained but confirmed that the latter was taken to Rumbek and suspended by Governor Tueny Mabor.
“No, the commissioner of Yirol West County was not arrested and is not detained but he was suspended from his position for poor working relationships with government authorities including the governor,” Minister Koji said. “He is currently in Rumbek and he was told not to leave because in Yirol West he can continue to complicate matters since the current leadership did not recognize him as the commissioner there.”
He added: “Some time back, the governor complained and requested Dr. Riek Machar to relieve Commissioner Achieng from his position because he is fond of working alone, making contrary decisions, not implementing the decision of the governor, and sabotaging the system.”
The minister said since the SPLM-IO chairman did not respond to Governor Tueny’s request, it was seen fit that the commissioner stays away from his duty station to avoid him complicating matters. He said Commissioner Achieng is very safe in Rumbek.