Kiir appoints Makal, Ulang county commissioners after 43 reportedly killed in Ulang communal violence

Kiir appoints Makal, Ulang county commissioners after 43 reportedly killed in Ulang communal violence. South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit has appointed commissioners for Makal and Ulang counties in the Upper Nile state.

According to an Eye Radio Report seen by NCMP, at least 43 people have reportedly been killed and several others wounded in communal fighting in Ulang County of Upper Nile state.

The state minister of information, Luke Saadallah said clashes happened Friday at around noon when two clans fought each other.

In the report, the minister mentioned that the deadly revenge-like violence was sparked by the killing of a young man in Ulang County last month.

He also attributed the fighting to the lack of a local government in the area, saying there are no government forces present in the area to rescue the situation.

In response to the development, in a republican decree announced on South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC), Kiir appointed Charles Chol Deng Yor from the Other Political Parties (OPP) as Makal County Commissioner and Riek Gai Gatluak from the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) as Ulang County Commissioner.

Makal and Ulang Counties have remained without commissioners since March when the President appointed advisors, ministers, county commissioners, and members of independent commissions for Upper Nile State.

A disagreement over the governance of Makal county is partly to blame for the delay in appointments.