County Commissioners Forum Malakal
Malakal is hosting all 13 county commissioners of Upper Nile State for the second county forum, a three-day meeting scheduled from 1 September.
Governor James Koang Chuol confirmed their arrival Sunday morning, stating that logistical preparations, including accommodation and conference facilities, had been finalised to international partners’ satisfaction.
Security and Service Delivery in Spotlight
Each commissioner is expected to present a detailed report on local security conditions, road connectivity, health posts and economic activity, offering the administration its first state-wide dataset since early 2023.
Officials say particular attention will be given to areas recently affected by cattle-related violence and flood displacement, with the aim of aligning police deployment and humanitarian support before the dry season.
Road to the Governors Forum
Findings from Malakal will shape the national Governors’ Forum later this year, where state leaders meet President Salva Kiir and development partners in Juba to set spending priorities.
Speaking to Eye Radio, Governor Koang underlined that consensus in Malakal would ‘allow Upper Nile to speak with one clear voice on security and service delivery’. The absence of Nasir’s commissioner was described as logistical, not political.
Citizens’ Expectations High
Civil society groups in Malakal have welcomed the forum, urging commissioners to address teacher salaries and river transport safety. Youth leader Nyang Chol said residents ‘want decisions that translate into visible change, not documents filed away’.
Observers note that successful coordination could unlock additional donor funding for infrastructure, especially if incident trends show improvement over the coming months.