By Yiep Joseph
President Salva Kiir has stated that he will continue to appoint and relieve officials in the position of Warrap State governor if that is what it takes to bring lasting peace to the state.
He revealed his intentions behind the frequent changes in leadership in the conflict-affected Warrap State during the swearing-in ceremony for new Governor Bol Wek, last week.
The head of the State further explained that he will continue rotating governors until he finds one capable of bringing stability to the state.
“I fired one governor yesterday and appointed a new one. I hope he will succeed in his duties. I wanted someone from Tonj to resolve the issues, but it has not worked, so I will try the whole of Warrap,” Kiir stated.
The President urged the newly appointed governor to make every effort to restore peace or risk being replaced.
“Bol Wek, it is up to you to succeed,” he added.
Kiir also called on the youth to cease hostilities and promote peaceful coexistence.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to support the new governor in his efforts to end inter-communal conflict and urged the people of Tonj and the wider Warrap community to welcome Wek with open hearts and minds.
In response, Governor Bol Wek vowed to promote unity among the people and ensure that hostilities become a thing of the past.
“I will do my best, with your support and guidance, to restore peace,” Wek said. He appealed to all residents of Warrap State to collaborate with him in achieving this goal.
Governor Wek pledged to prioritize peacebuilding, law enforcement, and the restoration of effective local governance.
He also called on Warrap natives living in Juba to act as ambassadors of peace for their conflict-ridden state.
Despite being President Kiir’s home state, Warrap has faced recurring violence, including revenge killings and cattle raids, contributing to ongoing instability.
Like other states in South Sudan, the government has attempted various strategies, such as changing governors and forming peace committees, to end inter-communal conflict, but challenges persist.
President Kiir has appointed eight governors for Warrap State since independence, employing military tactics to address the violence, yet the situation remains unresolved.
Some of the military officers appointed to the governorship include Gen. Aleu Anyieny, Gen. Francis Abur, Gen. Magok Magok, and Kuol Muor Muor, all of whom utilized military authority during their tenures.
In a shift, President Kiir appointed Bol Wek Agoth as the new governor of Warrap State, moving away from military leadership to a diplomatic approach.
Wek, a former chief of state protocol and acting chief administrator in the president’s office, was appointed after Lt. Gen. Magok Magok was relieved from his position following a surge in communal violence that left 62 people dead, including 20 women, and 36 others injured, during clashes between the Luacjang and Jalwau communities from May 28 to 29, 2025.
President Kiir has consistently directed every governor he appoints to double their efforts to restore peace in their areas.
Due to ongoing instability in Warrap, he recently declared a six-month state of emergency in the state.
Political analyst Danial Chol expressed that frequent changes in governors alone will not stabilize the region.
He emphasized the need for the national government to initiate development programs and services, develop roads in remote areas, and deploy police forces to quickly respond to issues such as cattle raiding and inter-community confrontations.