10/01/2024
Subject: Urgent Appeal to Rescue the People of Nyirol County
Your Excellency, President Salva Kiir Mayardit,
We hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. We write to you today on behalf of the Nyirol Youth Association for Development, with a deep sense of concern and urgency regarding the current situation in Nyirol County. The community is in desperate need of your intervention to rescue them from the dire consequences of the current commissioner’s actions.
The people of Nyirol County have become increasingly frustrated with the commissioner due to a series of alarming incidents. Firstly, he has misused the funds contributed by the community for essential projects such as the clearance and leveling of the Chuil-land road, the survey of the county headquarters, and the relocation of the airstrip. The community had contributed approximately $35,000, and an additional $15,000 was contributed by the governor of Jonglei State, Hon. Denay Jok Chagor. However, the whereabouts of these funds remain unknown, and the community is left without any answers.
Furthermore, the commissioner has also diverted a sum of 2 million SSP from the MTN company to his personal account, which was intended as a business share for the $25,000 contribution made by the community during the installation of the MTN network in La Kien in 2020. This diversion of funds has caused immense distress and disillusionment among the citizens.
Your Excellency, the situation has escalated to the point where the community’s frustration erupted in an attack on the commissioner’s compound in June 2023. The individuals involved in the attack are still awaiting payment for services rendered, and if their grievances continue to be ignored, another violent incident is likely to occur. The safety and well-being of the community are at stake.
Additionally, the commissioner’s actions have caused severe divisions within the community. One incident involved the commissioner’s security personnel threatening pilots at gunpoint, who were transporting the body, burial materials, and delegates, including SSPDF spokesperson Gen. L*l Ruai Kong. This unnecessary aggression has further exacerbated tensions and led to a breakdown of trust.
Moreover, under the current commissioner’s leadership, Nyirol County has experienced a significant rise in insecurity. The number of deaths resulting from internal conflicts and the neighboring Pibor Administrative Area has reached a staggering 437 during his four-year tenure. The exorbitant air ticket fares imposed by the commissioner, with a ticket from Nyirol County to Juba costing $250, have further burdened the community. The additional $50 clearance fee and the $10,000 SSP charges as national security services fees have created an unfair financial burden on the people of Nyirol County. We question the justification for these fees and whether they are applied uniformly across the country.
Most alarmingly, unknown gunmen have now reached Nyirol County, as evidenced by the recent killing of a man in Thol Payam, Langken, the county headquarters, on January 8, 2024. The lives of the people of Nyirol County are at great risk under the leadership of Mr. Bol Makuey. It is imperative that immediate action be taken to address this urgent security threat.
Your Excellency, we implore you to intervene and rescue the people of Nyirol County from the clutches of an incompetent leader. The community is in dire need of someone who can provide security, uphold their duties, and unite the great community of Baal.
We understand the complexities of governance and the challenges you face in addressing issues across the country. However, we believe that the well-being and safety of the people should always be the utmost priority. We humbly request that you relieve the current commissioner of his duties before any further harm befalls the community.
The Nyirol Youth Association for Development stands ready to support and collaborate with your administration in finding a suitable replacement who can lead with integrity, ensure transparency, and prioritize the well-being of the people. We trust in your wisdom and leadership to bring about positive change for the people of Nyirol County.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. We eagerly await your swift action to rescue our community from the current predicament.
Sincerely,
NYAD’s chairperson
Nyirol Youth Association for Development
NDHN24, the voice of the voiceless
