The governor of South Sudan’s Upper Nile State has suspended the commissioner of Maiwut County, a move that comes amid renewed violence in the troubled northeast.
Lt. Gen. James Koang Chuol Ranley announced the suspension of Commissioner Ler Jock Thoan in an order dated Sept. 3, citing constitutional provisions and a presidential decree but offering no explanation. The decision followed a three-day gathering of county commissioners in Malakal, the state capital, where Thoan had participated and presented a report on Maiwut’s challenges.
State Information Minister Peter Ngwojo said the suspension surprised many officials, though it could be tied to unrest in Maiwut. On Monday, clashes in the county seat of Mathiang left at least 20 people dead, after fighting between government troops and opposition forces aligned with the SPLA-IO.
Ngwojo said Thoan remained at his residence and had not been detained, dismissing social media reports to the contrary. “If there is evidence, it will be the governor to give directives for arrest or detention,” he said.
The commissioner has also been the subject of online allegations that he communicated with opposition groups. Ngwojo said Thoan denied those claims, attributing them to political rivals in South Sudan and Ethiopia.
Relatives of the suspended official declined to comment on his status.
Upper Nile has endured recurring clashes this year, including battles in Nasir County involving the White Army militia. The suspension of Maiwut’s commissioner adds a new layer of uncertainty to a region already struggling with political fractures and sporadic violence.
