Eastern Equatoria State Governor Louis Lobong Lojore has indefinitely suspended three county commissioners and appointed their replacements through separate gubernatorial decrees.
The decision was made in gubernatorial decree No. 01/2026 and obtained by Radio Tamazuj on Monday.
The suspended commissioners are Polepole Benjamin Olum of Magwi County, Paul Lokale of Kapoeta South County, and Christopher Andrew Philipson Abilly of Torit County. All three were suspended from their positions indefinitely.
No reason was given for the suspensions.
In a related move, Governor Lobong issued decree No. 02/2026, appointing caretaker commissioners for the affected counties. Lam Francis Gabriel was named caretaker commissioner of Magwi County, while Jeff Longoria Lokipi and Lokang Charles Italian were appointed to Kapoeta South and Torit counties, respectively.
Former Magwi County Commissioner Polepole Benjamin Olum said he accepted the suspension and pledged support for his successor. In a Facebook post seen by Radio Tamazuj, Olum congratulated Lam Francis Gabriel, describing him as a fellow SPLM comrade and resident of Eastern Equatoria State.
Olum expressed hope that Gabriel would successfully assume the role, saying, “Together we can do great things for our community and our nation.”
Oriaja James Libirato, the youth president of Eastern Equatoria State, stressed the importance of security, peace and stability in the region.
He said he expects the new commissioners to prioritize the protection of citizens and their property, noting that development can only be achieved through peaceful coexistence.
Libirato also underscored the need for essential services, including schools, healthcare, infrastructure and electricity, saying such services can only flourish in a secure environment.
A concerned citizen, Allam Offis Omusulla, welcomed the administrative changes but raised concerns about the frequent turnover of county leadership. He warned that repeated changes could disrupt initiatives launched by previous officials.
Focusing on Torit County, where community conflicts have been common, Omusulla said frequent leadership changes could hinder the implementation of critical policies. He noted that the governor had established a committee to lead peace and reconciliation efforts between the contested areas of Hiyalla and Haforiere, as well as Tirangore and Murahatiha.
However, Omusulla pointed out that the head of the committee, a former commissioner who has now been relieved of his duties, had already begun developing strategies for community reconciliation.
He expressed concern that the leadership changes could delay the committee’s work and weaken its ability to address urgent issues.
Despite these concerns, Omusulla acknowledged the qualifications of the newly appointed commissioners, noting that they represent a younger and more dynamic generation of leaders. He said he hopes their perspectives will align with the needs of the youth at the payam, county and village levels.
He emphasized that the commissioners must engage directly with communities to identify and address their challenges, adding that the success of the appointments will ultimately depend on their ability to curb insecurity and promote development across the state.