SOUTH SUDAN: Upper Nile State Governor Suspends Ulang County Commissioner

By Deborah Akur Chol, South Sudan

The Upper Nile State Governor General James Koang Chuol, has announced the suspension of Ulang County Commissioner Riek Gai Galuak. The order, which this publication has reviewed, did not provide specific reasons for the suspension.

Riek Gai Galuak is affiliated with the Federal Democratic Party (FDP), led by Higher Education Minister Changson Chang. The FDP is part of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA).

This suspension follows significant unrest in the region; late last month, SPLA-IO forces, along with the White Army a group of armed Nuer youth forced the Ulang County Commissioner from office, mandating him to cease all official duties, remain at home, and assigning another individual to take over his responsibilities.

The unrest has escalated, causing hundreds of fatalities and displacing thousands. The South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) conducted an offensive that resulted in their control of Ulang on April 17 and, most recently, Nasir on Sunday, both without resistance as the White Army withdrew.

In March, escalating tensions culminated when the White Army expelled the army after a series of clashes, resulting in the death of SSPDF commander Major General Majur Dak and 27 soldiers during a UN evacuation operation in Nasir on March 7. Relations between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar’s SPLM/A-IO have deteriorated significantly, leading to Machar’s house arrest and the detention of several of his senior officials. The SSPDF has since conducted sporadic attacks against Machar’s forces, prompting multiple defections to the SSPDF.

Attempts to reach the suspended Commissioner Riek Gai for a statement have been unsuccessful