Rumor Sparks Community Alarm
Morning radio shows in Bor City spent Monday dissecting a leaked memo hinting at the dismissal of Commissioner James Gai Makor. The document, addressed to Governor Dr Riek Gai Kok, proposes Ateny Pech Arik as successor, reigniting old tensions.
Dr Angok Kuol Tiir, chairing the powerful Bor Community Association, told reporters the rumor ‘has caused deep anxiety,’ reminding residents of last year’s volatile protests when Pech’s proposed appointment was frozen by President Salva Kiir.
Historical Flashback of 2023 Stand-off
In April 2023, Pech lost the mayoral seat amid criticism over revenue collection and urban planning. Governor Kok then nominated him for the county post, triggering street demonstrations and a swift petition to Juba.
State lawmakers rushed to convene an emergency session where elders, youth leaders and SPLM officials unanimously urged the presidency to cool tempers. A letter from Kiir’s office subsequently advised against immediate changes in Bor County.
Calls for Transparent Selection
Today the community insists the selection process should tap the pool of educated youth, many of whom returned after studies in Kampala and Nairobi. ‘We are not short of talent,’ Kuol stressed in his memo.
Observers argue that rotating leadership among clans could help defuse perceptions of favoritism while aligning with SPLM guidelines that emphasize merit and regional balance.
Political Dynamics in Jonglei
Jonglei’s fragile peace depends on delicate alliances between cattle-keeping counties and flood-prone farming zones. Analysts say a divisive appointment in Bor, the state’s commercial heart, could echo across neighboring Twic East and Duk.
Yet insiders close to Governor Kok describe his leadership as consultative and cautious, noting that any final decree will likely follow exhaustive meetings with party caucuses and security chiefs.
State Response Still Pending
Calls to the governor’s press unit rang unanswered on Tuesday evening. Meanwhile, social media rumours swirled, some falsely claiming a swearing-in ceremony was imminent at Freedom Hall.
State secretary Isaiah Chol dismissed the claims as ‘premature’, telling a local FM station that ‘no official communication has been issued’ and warning netizens against inflammatory posts.
Way Forward for Bor County
With planting season approaching, many residents hope leadership questions will settle before focus shifts to repairing dykes and markets battered by last year’s floods.
Whether Ateny Pech returns or a fresh face emerges, stakeholders agree that transparent dialogue remains the surest path to preserve the relative calm Jonglei has enjoyed since the 2018 revitalised peace deal.