By Chol D. Johnson
The commissioner of Bor County, Samuel Ateny Pach, has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to alcohol traders to remove their products from the area.
The ultimatum followed a ban on alcohol sales and consumption in Bor County, Jonglei State.
In an exclusive interview with No.1 Citizen Daily Newspaper, Bor County Commissioner Samuel Ateny Pach said all business people dealing in toxic alcohol must dispose off their products.
“I’m giving like 72 hours for those who have the alcohol in the market to dispose them immediately, we are taking them to the nearby counties that are still operating without that provision, or sell them away immediately before the order takes effect,” Ateny ordered.
Ateny said the ban will mainly affect traders dealing in the prohibited items and urged them to comply before the deadline.
He noted that the directive aligns with an earlier order issued by the Bor Town mayor concerning alcohol consumption.
The commissioner further explained that the decision follows a resolution by the state Council of Ministers announced three weeks ago.
According to Ateny, the directive will apply across all payams of Bor County, although Bor Town itself falls under the jurisdiction of the town mayor.
He clarified that not all alcohol is banned, but certain types considered harmful are prohibited.
“We also specify the types of alcohol that are prohibited and the types of alcohol that could continue,” he explained.
“I’m not making it without the consent of the authorities of the town and the state as well,” Ateny added.
Ateny emphasised that the decision was reached during a state security meeting involving key authorities.
“The mayor and I were part and parcel of the security meeting of the state security committee,” he said.
The directive follows a press statement issued by the commissioner under County Order No. 010/2026, which bans alcohol brewing and consumption across all payams of Bor County, from Jalle to Abii.
The order warns that anyone found violating the directive will be arrested and brought before the “C” Court. Offenders could face imprisonment of up to six months without bail.
The statement also calls on civil administrators, chiefs, youth leaders, and other authorities to cooperate with security organs by reporting violators.
Meanwhile, civil society activist Bol Deng Bol, executive director of INTREPID South Sudan, disagreed with the approach taken by the county authorities.
“We disagree on the approach of the Bor County Commissioner order; the best approach is that the materials that are used to manufacture the local brews could be restricted,” Bol said.
Bol acknowledged that stakeholders agree on the need to address substance abuse among youth in Jonglei State but emphasised the need for a more gradual approach.
“We all agree on the abuse of drugs among youth in Jonglei state and agree that the order needs to be regulated,” he reiterated.
He suggested that traders should be given at least three months to clear their stock and that imports of alcohol should be halted immediately to minimise losses.
Bol also called on the government to conduct public awareness campaigns about the ban.
He further raised concerns over the legal implications of the order, particularly the provision for imprisonment without bail.