By Manas James Okony
James Bol Makuey, the commissioner of Nyirol County in Jonglei State, has asserted his commitment to fulfilling his duties despite facing threats from the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) amid escalating political tensions.
The 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) facilitates power-sharing arrangements among President Salva Kiir’s SPLM, Riek Machar’s SPLM-IO, and other political factions.
As part of this agreement, Nyirol—a county predominantly controlled by SPLM-IO—has been designated to Kiir’s SPLM.
The security situation in various parts of South Sudan remains fragile, with the delicate peace established by the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement hanging by a thread. In recent weeks, uneasy calm has settled over some areas, with violent clashes between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and the White Army, a militia group based in the Upper Nile region.
The White Army has been accused by the government of having ties to Machar’s SPLM-IO, and it has been central to recent confrontations that have caused significant loss of life and increased instability.
Recent violence in Upper Nile State, particularly in Nasir, has been deadly, resulting in casualties including a senior SSPDF commander and a staff member of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
In an interview with No. Citizen Daily Newspaper, Commissioner James Bol Makuey refuted reports of his arrest and claims that he had been ordered to vacate his position.
“On Thursday morning, some SPLM-IO forces came to my residence and informed me that the agreement had collapsed,” he stated.
“I requested clarification, but none was provided, so the opposition forces eventually left.”
Bol affirmed his status as the commissioner, saying, “I am a son of this area. My grandfather was a prominent chief known throughout the entire Lou community, so I cannot yield to any pressure to abandon the county.”
When reached for comment, Michael Bol, the state SPLM-IO secretary-general, stated that he had yet to gather details on the situation.
“I have not been briefed on these political developments in Nyirol County,” he said.