By Gladys Kole
Women rights network and youth in Jonglei State, yesterday took to the streets of Bor twon protesting the reappointment of the sacked Bor municipal council mayor as the commissioner of Bor County demanding for his dismissal from the post and axing of deputy governor Jacob Akech Dengdit.
The protesters have called upon the Jonglei state government, Bor county and South Sudan at large to solve the matter and create space for transparency and accountability following a staged protest on Monday.
Yesterday the women groups and youths in Jonglei state Bor staged a peaceful demonstration following the reappointment of the former Bor town Mayor Samuel Ateny Peach.
Storming the streets of Bor town the dissatisfied protesters urged the state government to revoke the appointment of the former Mayor Samuel Ateny as Bor county commissioner, and also call for the deputy governor Akech Dengdit to be removed from his position due to tensions in the state.
The women and youth also welcome for the reinstatement of former minister of lands, Isaac Mamer Ruk, who was suspended.
In the protest the women and youth have accused some top national government officials of nepotism, adding that they recommend the appointments of some tainted individuals to the appointing authorities.
Achol Kur Marial a representative of women Rights network in Jonglei state said that the women right network stands in solidarity with the peaceful protesters as they exercise their rights to assembly and freedom of expression.
“The country without justice is dimed.” Said the women rights network representative.
In a gubernatorial order on 27th March 2023 the mayor of Bor municipal council was relieved by the governor of Jonglei state probably as punishment.
Most importantly the governor also canceled all the controversial mayoral orders regarding the plots including the market place belonging to the women vegetable group located in the heart of Marol market.
The women rights group however lauded Jonglei state Governor Denay Jock for helping the women groups to maintain the land so that they can sell their goods and help to put food on their table and educate their children.
“But due to the eyes of greediness we don’t need this act the women vegetable group Jonglei state women in general are supporting each other and all the affected land owners’ women must win since they are every living in this country” Achol stressed.
Jonglei civil society network also said its standing with the women rights group in theie quest for solution from the citizens and government to investigate the land issues in the state.
Meanwhile the women and members of Bor Community accuse Ateny of being “a land thief” and are demanding that he should not be sworn in.
“We don’t want Ateny. He has been stealing land and other properties. There is no way a land thief can come in the form of a County Commissioner,” one of the woman who remains anonymous protested.
“If he was stealing when he was just a Mayor, what would he do after getting the full power of being the County Commissioner?” One youth leader questioned on the other hand.
The protesters also accused Jongeli state deputy Governor Jacob Akech Dengdit and Information Minister Michael Makuei of being behind Ateny’s appointment something they objected.
“This is unacceptable and we urge President Kiir to come in and remove both Akech Dengdit and Ateny Pech” the groups voiced their grievances.
Meanwhile, No. 1 Citizen Daily Newspaper efforts to reach police authorities in Bor for comment on the, matter were futile by press time as the Jonglei State police commissioner contact were not immediately reachable.