Why Relieve Bor County Commissioner?
3 min readBy Malith Alier, Juba
The news coming from Bor County that its commissioner was dismissed is indeed one of unpalatable sackings this country has ever witnessed. John koang, the irate governor was in Juba during the crisis while the ever-patriotic Bor County commissioner was on the shores of Nile River suffering with his people there. This is one reason why this author believed that the commissioner is still the best for that war-devastated county.
Bor County deserves better and this cannot come from people like john koang whose agendum is to deprive the very people of every opportunity to be better. If john koang has, any sword in his hands he should instead use it to axe the remnants of GPAA officials stuck in Bor, notably the deputy governor and minister of information who is lulling us to sleep on the issue.
Overall, it is worse to be a County commissioner in this country. The job turnover of county commissioners is 90% since 2005. Bor County alone has four commissioners from 2005 to 2014 a period of about ten years. That means that a commissioner has ruled for less than three years on average in that embattled County.
According to Local Government Act 2009 section 48, a county commissioner’s term is 4 years renewable only once. Further and more importantly, a County commissioner is support to be directly elected by people of the County in a general election. This provision is shelved as if the Act was in vain.
The relieved Commissioner was trying to be nice when pressed on his removal. According to the Citizen Newspaper of 21 November, he was quoted as saying that nobody should take the law on to their own hand on his behalf. That is good, good Doctor Agoot. Your patriotic and long service to your people is unquestionable but remember that people who kill in this country are always rewarded for their bravery. Many names are now big because of that notoriety.
![Agot Alier Leek, Commissioner JPEG - 2.9 Mb Agot Alier Leek, taking the oath of office to become the Commissioner of Bor County before the president of the Jonglei State High Court, 12 September 2012 (ST) Name: Agot Alier Leek Position: Bor County Commissioner Career: Deputy Governor of Jonglei State (NCP), 1998-2005; Jonglei State Minister of Health (NCP), 2005-2010, for seven years as a member of Sudan’s ruling National Congress party (NCP); Bor County Commissioner (SPLM), Sept. 2012 - to date. Tribe: Dinka Bor Political Affiliation: National Congress Party (NCP) -2010; Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), 2010-to date. Background Agot Alier, is a member of the Dinka Bor from Anyidi Payam [district] in Bor County. Before the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which brought the former rebels the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) to power in South Sudan, Alier held the position of Jonglei’s Deputy Governor for seven years as a member of Sudan’s ruling National Congress party (NCP).](https://i0.wp.com/paanluelwel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/agot-alier.jpg?ssl=1)
Name: Agot Alier Leek, a medical doctor
Position: Bor County Commissioner
Career: Deputy Governor of Jonglei State (NCP), 1998-2005; Jonglei State Minister of Health (NCP), 2005-2010, for seven years as a member of Sudan’s ruling National Congress party (NCP); Bor County Commissioner (SPLM), Sept. 2012 – to date.
Tribe: Dinka Bor
Political Affiliation: National Congress Party (NCP) -2010; Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), 2010-to date.
Background: Agot Alier, is a member of the Dinka Bor from Anyidi Payam [district] in Bor County. Before the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which brought the former rebels the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) to power in South Sudan, Alier held the position of Jonglei’s Deputy Governor for seven years as a member of Sudan’s ruling National Congress party (NCP).
One of big stories coming from Bor, which we believe, caused the sacking of the Commissioner is the issue of land and many others like the teachers strike, business people closing shops because of diversion of US Dollars and the “stoning” of IDPs in UNMISS compound earlier in the year.
None of this should be blamed on the Commissioner, if at all the Governor and the entire Jonglei Administration is severally liable.
Jonglei is in bad shape as a result of the war. This situation would be rectified by other officials in the absence of John Koang and his dysfunctional administration in the near future. Indeed, let federalism come for this to be a reality.
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