By Peter Kuol Kuch
The government-appointed county commissioner of Akobo, Hon. James Kueth, has finally arrived in Bor County after fleeing the clashes in Akobo early this month.
Early this month, the commissioner of Akobo fled when the SPLA-IO forces attacked Akobo County, claiming county control; therefore, the commissioner was then evacuated to Pibor through Lilkuanglei with other government officials for safety.
On Friday last week, Hon. James Kueth was received with his key county government officials in Bor after spending weeks in Pibor.
The Akobo commissioner was received by his counterpart in Bor County and other state government officials.
While addressing the media on Friday, Hon. Ateny Pech, the commissioner of Bor County, honored the reception of the Akobo County commissioner and pledged his protection and other necessary assistance as he stays in Bortown.
“Hon. James Kueth, we are honored to receive you in Bor town and in the headquarters of Jonglei State. As the commissioner of Bor, we are honored to receive you and guarantee your stay here, and you will be facilitated until you return to your county,” Pech said.
Meanwhile, Hon. James Kueth, the commissioner of Akobo County, confirmed his warm reception in Bor.
“We arrived from GPAA in the late hours yesterday (on Sunday); we were warmly received. As the commissioner of Akobo County, I have come with some MPs and some police officers. I will be here to have some meetings with the ministers before I proceed to Akobo headquarters, which is Walgak,” he said.
Between March and April this year, the clashes were intensified between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and the SPLA-IO forces, where many towns in the northern part of Jonglei, including Ayod, Nyirol, and Akobo, were destroyed.
According to the UN report, more than 20,000 people were displaced internally and were in a catastrophic situation due to a lack of washing activities and aid assistance.