Governance Reshuffle in Jonglei State
The office of Governor Dr Riek Gai Kok confirmed on Tuesday the establishment of Pawuoi Payam, carved from the larger Nyuak Payam in Twic East County. Aluel Town, a growing market hub, becomes the seat of the new administrative unit.
The state decree cites the Transitional Constitution and the 2009 Local Government Act, mandating consultations with chiefs and residents to decide how many bomas will fall under Pawuoi’s jurisdiction.
Unity Question Within Nyuak Communities
Daniel Majok, a spokesperson for Nyuak Payam, said opinions split quickly. Awulian, the smallest of three communities, gains autonomy, while Darchuek and Ayual stay in the original payam. Majok fears the new border weakens a social fabric woven during decades of displacement.
Civil Society Warns of Resource Strain
The Bor-based watchdog Intrepid South Sudan argues that multiplying payams without matching budgets risks administrative fatigue. Executive Director Bol Deng Bol called the move “a misallocation of focus” that could trigger leadership contests amid already tight humanitarian conditions.
He urged state officials to channel limited resources toward roads, dykes and markets, priorities citizens voiced during recent county tours led by Governor Kok.
Prospects for Service Delivery
State insiders counter that a leaner administrative radius will bring health posts, schools and police stations closer to scattered villages. A senior aide, requesting anonymity, said, ‘Smaller units mean quicker decisions and better data; communities won’t need to travel two hours for paperwork.’
Looking Ahead in Jonglei Politics
Debate will likely intensify once the Ministry of Local Government finalises the number of bomas and appoints interim staff. Observers predict that how fairly positions and budgets are shared will determine whether Pawuoi becomes a unifying success or a cautionary tale.