By Hou Akot Hou
The Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) Coordinator for Aweil East County, Akot Dut Athiang, commonly known as Akot Mawic, has denied allegations that he diverted humanitarian assistance meant for vulnerable communities, describing the accusations as a campaign to tarnish his reputation.
The denial follows a petition reportedly submitted by some youth from Aweil East County to Commissioner Mawein Mawein Kuol, calling for the removal of the RRC coordinator over alleged misconduct in the distribution of humanitarian assistance.
According to the petition, some youth, working in coordination with paramount chiefs, accused Akot of allegedly violating humanitarian principles and diverting relief supplies for personal benefit in collaboration with a small group of associates.
The petition claims that vulnerable families have been excluded from assistance and alleges malpractice in the distribution of food, non-food items, and cash assistance.
“Many vulnerable families who are genuinely in need of humanitarian assistance are reportedly being left out during the registration process,” the petition states, adding that humanitarian assistance has allegedly failed to reach intended beneficiaries because of alleged malpractice and corruption.
The petitioners also accused the coordinator of allegedly working with relatives to divert aid and claimed that property, including a facility previously used by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), had been misappropriated after the organisation left the area.
They further alleged that a generator donated by an aid organisation had been sold, while beneficiary cards were allegedly being sold and relief items collected using the names of other beneficiaries.
However, Akot strongly rejected the allegations, describing them as a “witch-hunt” aimed at damaging his reputation.
He said only a small group of individuals had allegedly approached some traditional leaders and provided them with misinformation before asking them to sign the petition.
“What happened is that a lot of misinformation has been documented against me,” Akot said, alleging that the campaign was led by Lazarus Anyar, whom he identified as the secretary of the Aweil East youth body.
Akot also rejected claims that the RRC participates in selecting humanitarian beneficiaries, saying international and national aid organisations conduct their own selection processes.
He explained that the previous registration system had been abandoned because it was vulnerable to favouritism and manipulation, with humanitarian organisations now conducting beneficiary selection independently.
On the allegation that he sold a generator, Akot said the claim was false, explaining that the equipment was provided by a local organisation, ACDF, and remains under RRC ownership.
He also denied renting out the former IOM facility, saying the land belonged to another individual and that the matter could be verified through local land authorities.
Akot said he was prepared to take legal action against those accusing him if they failed to provide evidence to support their claims.
The dispute comes at a time when humanitarian assistance remains critical for vulnerable communities across South Sudan, where poor rainfall and declining agricultural production have increased concerns over food insecurity.
The allegations and counter-allegations have yet to be independently verified, while attention now turns to the county and state authorities to determine whether an investigation or other corrective measures will be taken.