Jonglei chiefs claim that the elimination of ten unlawful revenue collection points resulted in their suspension by the Duk commissioner.

The new commissioner of Duk County in Jonglei State has suspended eight traditional chiefs from different parts of the county for rejecting his appointment.

In a petition submitted to the state deputy governor and state SPLM party leader Antipas Nyok Kucha last month, a group of traditional elders from the Dukpadiet area criticized the new county commissioner.

Sultan Deng Mabur, the suspended acting county paramount chief, explained in Radio Tamazuj report seen by NCMP that the suspension happened after the dismantling of 10 illegal revenue collection stations constructed by some youths in Bor town near the marshy fishing areas (Toich d’Hol).”

The commissioner was not happy about the development, and he mentioned according to the report that the chiefs overstepped their work. The chiefs explained that they took the step because the existence of such locations causes disrespect to them as community leaders, and they considered the suspension as unfair.

The Paramount Chief further explains that after both of them differed in Bor, they traveled to Duk to resolve the disagreements, which initially they both agreed to, but two days later, while in Duk, the commissioner reversed back the agreement.

The chief explained that the commissioner’s decision did not go well with the community and the commissioner was rejected when he arrived at Dukpadiet town.”

According to Sultan Deng Mabur, the government called eight chiefs to Bor last week, informed them of their suspension, and ordered them not to leave the town until the governor came.

Chief explained that the suspension is unfair because it is the people that gave him the mandate, not the government.

Duk County commissioner John Chatim, for his part, confirmed the suspension of the eight traditional chiefs without providing details, saying that his move was simply administrative.

“There is nothing to dispute about it. It is a matter of administration. Individuals who have been suspended are those who are interfering with government work,” he added.